Sir Keir Starmer will push a reluctant Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to prevent Vladimir Putin launching a fresh assault on Ukraine after any peace deal.

The UK prime minister is prepared to commit British troops to a peacekeeping mission but believes that US promises are vital to “deter Putin from coming again”.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington to sign a deal on rare earth minerals on Friday.

The US will get “a lot of money” back from Ukraine under the deal, Donald Trump says but refuses to provide minimal security guarantees to Kyiv in return.

“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” the US president told reporters, “we’re going to have Europe do that.”

Mr Zelensky says a framework economic deal with the US is ready but security guarantees Kyiv views as vital remain to be decided.

Russia earlier contradicted Mr Trump by saying it strongly opposed European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claiming that it was a “deceit aimed at fuelling the conflict”.

Key Points

• Zelensky to join European leaders in London meeting this weekend
• US and Russian officials to meet in Istanbul on Thursday
• Trump: We want to get as much of Ukraine back as possible
• Trump confirms Zelensky will visit Washington to sign deal on Friday
• Kremlin dismisses European peacekeeping force in Ukraine as ‘deceit’

Key meetings today

06:45 , Namita Singh

•British prime minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House today to try to convince president Donald Trump that a lasting peace in Ukraine will endure only if Kyiv and European leaders are at the table as negotiations move forward with Moscow.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer travels to Washington (Getty Images)

•Diplomats from Russia and the United States will meet in Istanbul today to discuss the operation of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington.

The meeting follows Russia-US talks in Saudi Arabia last week that marked an extraordinary shift in US foreign policy under president Donald Trump and a clear departure from US-led efforts to isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine.

At the talks, Moscow and Washington agreed to start working toward ending the war and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. That includes restoring the staffing at embassies, which in recent years were hit hard by mutual expulsions of large numbers of diplomats and other restrictions.

The embassy official said Ukraine will not be on the agenda.

UK plans Ukraine talks, Trump debrief with European leaders on Sunday

06:30 , Namita Singh

British prime minister Keir Starmer will on Sunday host leaders of Italy, Germany, Poland and other allies – possibly including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky – to discuss their response to Donald Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine.

The US president has forced a radical rethink of European security, blindsiding leaders by telling them they must raise defence spending and take responsibility for their own security.

Sunday’s meeting will come shortly after Mr Starmer returns from crunch talks with Mr Trump today in Washington, where the British leader hopes his pledge to increase the defence budget will help preserve close ties between the two allies.

“I accept that European allies, the UK included, must do more and that means on capability, coordination and spend,” Mr Starmer told reporters on his way to Washington.

“The coordination bit shouldn’t be overlooked. I was very struck by the lessons we have to learn from Ukraine about the way in which we need to coordinate better in terms of capability and supporting Ukraine.”

Stark truth is UK can no longer rely on US for its defence, warns Howard

06:08 , Namita Singh

Britain can no longer rely on the US for its defence or that of Europe, former Tory leader Michael Howard has warned, as he welcomed a promised hike in UK military spending.

The Conservative peer highlighted the “stark truth” after America joined with Russia, North Korea and Iran at the United Nations in New York to vote against a European-backed resolution which condemned Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the country.

British prime minister Keir Starmer speaks during a welcome reception at the UK ambassador’s residence (Getty Images)

Lord Howard of Lympne said the “comfortable world” of just a few weeks ago had gone and “harsh realities” now had to be faced.

Meanwhile, Conservative former prime minister Theresa May has urged Sir Keir Starmer, at his meeting with Donald Trump in Washington, to stress to the US president that Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine and that “the defence of Europe benefits the defence of America”.

The Tory peer’s comments came after Mr Trump branded Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator”, suggested Kyiv had started the war and ended Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s three-year diplomatic isolation by the US.

Ahead of face-to-face talks with the US leader, the prime minister announced spending on defence will rise from its current 2.3 per cent share of the economy to 2.5 per cent in 2027.

Starmer visits Washington for Trump talks with US-Europe ties under strain

05:35 , Namita Singh

Sir Keir Starmer will push a reluctant Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to prevent Vladimir Putin launching a fresh assault on Ukraine after any peace deal.

The US President said he would not provide security guarantees “beyond very much”, insisting it was for Europeans to protect Ukraine.

Sir Keir is prepared to commit British troops to a peacekeeping mission but believes that US promises are vital to “deter Putin from coming again”.

Ahead of his talks at the White House on Thursday, Sir Keir said Mr Trump can be trusted and understands that Russian President Mr Putin started the war in Ukraine.

Report:

Starmer visits Washington for Trump talks with US-Europe ties under strain

Zelensky will sign ‘very big’ minerals deal at White House on Friday, says Trump

04:44 , Namita Singh

Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign a minerals deal, Donald Trump said, though international agreement on possible peace talks remains far less clear.

The deal, under which Kyiv would hand some revenue from rare earth deposits in Ukraine to a fund jointly controlled by Washington, is central to President Zelensky’s attempts to win strong support as he seeks a quick end to Russia‘s war.

Mr Trump hailed it as “a very big agreement” at the start of the first cabinet meeting of his second term, attended by unelected billionaire Elon Musk.

More in this report from Alastair Jamieson:

Zelensky will sign ‘very big’ minerals deal at White House on Friday – Trump

Starmer faces up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks

04:44 , Namita Singh

Keir Starmer has made it clear he intends to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine as he jets over to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between a US president and British prime minister.

Speaking to journalists on the flight over the Atlantic, Sir Keir insisted that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has to be viewed as the aggressor.

He will make clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, and will push for Europe to play a greater part in global defence.

Report:

Starmer faces up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks

Russian, US diplomats to meet in Turkey to discuss operations of embassies in Moscow, Washington

04:29 , Namita Singh

Diplomats from Russia and the United States will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the operation of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said yesterday.

The meeting follows Russia-US talks in Saudi Arabia last week that marked an extraordinary shift in US foreign policy under president Donald Trump and a clear departure from US-led efforts to isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine.

At the talks, Moscow and Washington agreed to start working toward ending the war and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. That includes restoring the staffing at embassies, which in recent years were hit hard by mutual expulsions of large numbers of diplomats and other restrictions.

A US Embassy official in Ankara confirmed that US and Russian delegations will hold talks in Istanbul today on issues affecting the operation of respective diplomatic missions.

The embassy official said Ukraine will not be on the agenda.

No discussion of security guarantees in minerals deal with US, Zelensky says

04:08 , Namita Singh

Kyiv is not going to discuss security guarantees in its minerals deal with Washington, president Volodymyr Zelensky said. They will be discussed in future rounds of negotiations with the US and other allies, he told journalists on Wednesday.

The deal, finalised on 25 February, aims to create a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50 per cent of the proceeds from future monetisation of state-owned minerals, including oil, gas and logistics infrastructure.

In exchange, the agreement states that the US government “supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace”.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv (AP)

“I asked for an understanding that all this is part of the future security guarantees of Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said of the deal, adding that he wanted “at least a sentence about security guarantees for Ukraine to appear in the agreement — and it did appear.”

The US president said Europe, rather than the US, would be mainly responsible for providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much — we’re going to have Europe do that because we’re talking about Europe is their nextdoor neighbor,” Mr Trump said.

US declines to sign WTO statement condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine

03:49 , Namita Singh

The United States abstained from signing a statement by members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) condemning Russian aggression.

A Ukrainian serviceman digging a trench at an undisclosed location near Kramatorsk on 26 February 2025 (Getty Images)

A total of 45 members, including Western allies and Ukraine, agreed to the WTO statement on 26 February.”The decision not to co-sponsor was made in keeping with our position in the United Nations Security Council and UN General Assembly earlier this week”, a US official told Reuters after the decision.

The statement, proposed during Ukraine’s Trade Policy Review, emphasised members’ concerns surrounding the “consequences of (the war’s) destruction for Ukraine and for global trade,” while explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor.

EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas won’t meet US counterpart Rubio on trip to Washington

03:20 , Andy Gregory

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will not meet with US secretary of state Marco Rubio during her trip to Washington this week, “due to scheduling issues”, her office has said.

Ms Kallas said on Monday that she would meet Mr Rubio during her trip this week to discuss efforts by Donald Trump’s new administration to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Europe cannot sustain 100,000-strong Ukraine peacekeeping force, former British army chief warns

03:17 , Andy Gregory

European nations would have to send at least 100,000 troops to keep the peace in Ukraine and “none of them can do it”, a former head of the British armed forces has warned.

General Lord Richards called for Nato countries to be “very grown up” and “live within what is physically and militarily possible”, rather than “what our political leaders sometimes would aspire to do”.

The former chief of the defence staff warned it is “inevitable” that Russia will seek to test any defence force placed in Ukraine in the event of a deal to end the war. “If we send troops, they will be tested, and they have to robustly be able to defend themselves,” Lord Richards told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He said given the size of the border between Russia and Ukraine a force of 100,000 to 200,000 troops would be needed. He added that these troops would need to be rotated, which could singificantly increase the number number that would be required to maintain the presence.

“The idea you are going to send a few peacekeepers with berets to reassure the Ukrainians is crass,” Lord Richards said. “We are talking, to do it robustly, 100,000 troops overall, drawn from European nations. None of them can do it,” he added.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Europe cannot sustain massive Ukraine peacekeeping force, former army chief warns

03:15 , Andy Gregory

Following Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that UK defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2026-27 and head towards 3 per cent by 2033, leading defence analyst Francis Tusa writes:

The biggest unknown question about this increased spend is this: will Healey be allowed to increase the personnel size of any of the services? The past 25 years have seen the services all heading in one direction: down.

It is really obvious that the smaller service size is a limiting factor to what they can do for UK defence, so might a slight increase in size be on the cards. The Treasury hates this, viscerally, with the pensions and social costs further down the line. But the case for more personnel ought to be easy to make.

Winning the battle over higher defence spending might have been the easy part for Healey – absorbing and spending the extra money well is going to be as great a challenge, if not an even larger one.

The defence hike is prompting fantasies about new kit – what we need is more soldiers

Analysis | Europe and the UK have outspent the US on Ukraine’s defence

03:13 , Andy Gregory

Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:

Europe and the UK have outspent the US on Ukraine’s defence. According to the Kiel Institute, the US has spent close to €120bn (£99bn) on Ukraine, compared to nearly €130bn by the EU and UK.

As a proportion of GDP, based on statistics from December last year, the institute said the US, UK and Germany were spending less than 0.2 per cent of their GDP on Ukraine – and many Ukrainian allies were chipping in with less than 0.1 per cent.

Trump claims the US has spent $350bn on Ukraine. This is a lie – but he wants it back, so he’s demanding about three times the “cost” of US support for defending democracy.

Read his analysis in full here.

Ukrainian drone attack kills one, injures one in Russia’s Belgorod region

03:10 , Namita Singh

A Ukrainian drone attack struck a car in Russia’s border region of Belgorod, killing one person and injuring another, the regional governor said early this morning.

The governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the man was killed in the town of Graivoron, near the Ukrainian border. The injured man was taken to hospital.

Ukrainian forces have frequently launched attacks on Belgorod and other border regions in the three-year-old conflict. Ukrainian troops made a mass incursion last August into Kursk region and still hold a chunk of territory.

North Korea has sent more troops to Russia, reports citing Seoul’s spy agency say

03:10 , Namita Singh

North Korea has deployed additional troops to Russia, but the scale of the contingent was not immediately known, South Korean media reported today, citing the country’s intelligence agency.

The additional troops have been sent to the battlegrounds in Russia’s Kursk region, the reports said. Russian forces are fighting Ukrainian troops who thrust across the border into the western Russia region.

The spokesperson’s office at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

North Korea has deployed more than 11,000 troops to Russia to fight in the Ukraine war, the NIS has previously said. Ukraine and Western experts say Russian forces have also used North Korean weapons.

North Korea has not formally acknowledged its military support for Russia in the Ukraine war.

Ukraine minerals deal: What are the details and why does Trump want them?

03:00 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has agreed to a rare earth minerals deal with the US in a bid to secure support to end the war after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands.

As a central point of peace negotiations, the US had been pushing for a deal that would grant it half of Ukraine’s revenues from critical minerals, oil, gas, and stakes in key infrastructure, such as ports, through a joint investment fund.

Below, The Independent looks at what could be included in the deal and why it is being struck:

Ukraine minerals deal: What are the details and why does Trump want them

Zelensky will sign ‘very big’ minerals deal at White House on Friday, says Trump

02:01 , Alex Croft

Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign a minerals deal, Donald Trump said, though international agreement on possible peace talks remains far less clear.

The deal, under which Kyiv would hand some revenue from rare earth deposits in Ukraine to a fund jointly controlled by Washington, is central to President Zelensky’s attempts to win strong support as he seeks a quick end to Russia‘s war.

Mr Trump hailed it as “a very big agreement” at the start of the first cabinet meeting of his second term, attended by unelected billionaire Elon Musk.

The US president confirmed Mr Zelensky would be at the White House on Friday – after Thursday’s visit by Sir Keir Starmer – but suggested the US would not be making far-reaching security guarantees.

Alastair Jamieson with the full report:

Zelensky will sign ‘very big’ minerals deal at White House on Friday – Trump

ICYMI: Russia claims UK and France are ‘heating up the conflict’ in Ukraine

01:00 , Alex Croft

Russia has sought to claim that the UK and France are “heating up the conflict” in Ukraine rather than seeking peace in the full-scale war initiated and sustained by Moscow ever since its troops invaded three years ago.

Speaking during a visit to Qatar, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed: “The approach that is being imposed by the Europeans, first of all France and the British, is aimed… at heating up the conflict further and stopping any attempts to calm it down.”

Watch: President Zelensky says deal with US ‘will not be enough’ to end war

00:00 , Alex Croft

Rory Stewart says Starmer and Trump have inflicted ‘unimaginable damage’ over foreign aid cuts

Wednesday 26 February 2025 23:31 , Alex Croft

Rory Stewart has hit out at Keir Starmer’s decision to slash foreign aid spending to boost the defence budget, comparing the Labour prime minister to Donald Trump.

Sir Keir bowed to pressure from Donald Trump to boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP just hours before jetting to the White House for a crunch meeting with the US President.

The PM defended the move, saying it was necessary to take on “tyrants” like Putin.

But former foreign office minister and Tory MP Mr Stewart warned that parallel decisions to reduce aid on both sides of the Atlantic would leave the UK and US jointly responsible for “unimaginable damage” to international security and the climate.

“The US and the UK were foundation stones of the international development system,” he said.

Read the full report:

Rory Stewart says Starmer and Trump both responsible for ‘unimaginable damage’

Sam Kiley | If Ukraine agrees to Trump’s minerals deal, it will be a mafia-style extortion

Wednesday 26 February 2025 23:00 , Alex Croft

World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes.

By agreeing to a minerals deal with Donald Trump, Ukraine’s president sent the Russian rouble to its highest level against the dollar since last summer.

Currency traders clearly believe Trump’s apparent approval of a trade agreement to rinse Ukraine for billions in back-payment for military and financial aid suits the Kremlin, not Kyiv.

Threatened with annihilation, Ukraine has been forced into a protection racket, one in which Vladimir Putin has supplied the muscle, and Trump, like a street-level mafia thug, has stepped in to collect the rent.

Read the full article here:

If Ukraine agrees to Trump’s minerals deal, it will be a mafia-style extortion

US-Ukraine minerals deal is ‘excellent’, says Boris Johnson

Wednesday 26 February 2025 22:29 , Alex Croft

Full report: Trump says EU was ‘formed to screw US’ and tells Europe to shoulder Ukraine security

Wednesday 26 February 2025 21:59 , Alex Croft

Donald Trump has claimed the European Union was invented to “screw” the US during a meeting in which he made clear that Europe would be responsible for Ukraine’s security after a peace settlement.

Speaking during his first cabinet meeting, Mr Trump announced that Washington would strike the EU with tariffs in the region of 25 per cent, a decision he had hinted at in the past few months.

“We’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25 per cent generally speaking, and that’ll be on cars and all other things,” he said.

“Let’s be honest, the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it.”

Read the full report:

Trump says EU was ‘formed to screw US’ and only Europe must provide Ukraine security

Zelensky: Strength is needed on the path to peace

Wednesday 26 February 2025 21:34 , Alex Croft

In his nightly address posted on social media, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has made an appeal for US support to continue flowing.

“Peace and security guarantees are the key to ensuring that Russia can no longer destroy the lives of other nations,” he said.

“I will meet with @POTUS. For me and for all of us in the world, it’s important that U.S. support is not stopped. Strength is needed on the path to peace.”

What are Ukraine’s rare minerals and why does Trump want them?

Wednesday 26 February 2025 21:16 , Alex Croft

In brief:

• Ukraine and the US are nearing a deal regarding Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to secure US support amid the war.
• The US had initially sought half of Ukraine’s revenues from critical minerals and key infrastructure through a joint investment fund.
• A preliminary agreement involves Ukraine contributing 50 per cent of proceeds from state-owned mineral resources to a fund for Ukrainian projects, with the US committed to supporting Ukraine’s economic development.
• Ukraine possesses significant untapped deposits of critical minerals like lithium and titanium, estimated to be worth over £12 trillion, much of which are located in regions annexed or occupied by Russia.
• Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Trump to finalize the deal, but challenges remain, including regulatory hurdles, access to geological data, and security concerns for companies operating in Ukraine.

In Focus | How should Britain spend our defence budget if we really want to be safer

Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:56 , Alex Croft

In the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2026-27 and head towards 3 per cent by 2033, leading defence analyst Francis Tusa writes:

There needs to be some careful thought about what this extra money is, what it can be used for, and what it will do as regards the shape and capabilities of the services, and UK defence as a whole.

In the immediate aftermath of the defence budget increase, there has been an online boom in people “pre-spending” the extra cash, seeing pet programmes as now being funded. If only life were that simple.

There is no defence cash-and-carry warehouse where you can load up pallets of ships, fighters, or tanks, pay for them and walk off … Even with this extra money being devoted to defence, anyone expecting to see anything dramatically different in a year’s time to what they look like today is going to be disappointed.

Eliminating the capability gaps in all of the services, the holes, and the chasms will be the work of many years, even if everything is to be done at the fastest possible speed.

The defence hike is prompting fantasies about new kit – what we need is more soldiers

ICYMI: We won’t pay debt to US, Zelensky insists

Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:38 , Alex Croft

President Zelensky says Ukraine will not repay any debts to the US under the wording of a deal agreed on his country’s minerals.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said his country and the US had reached a preliminary agreement on a broad economic deal that includes American access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

After days of negotiations, Ukraine and the US will sign the preliminary agreement, although further details of a full agreement – including US security guarantees that Kyiv officials view as vital – are still to be worked out, Mr Shmyhal said on Ukrainian public television.

UCRANIA-GUERRA (AP)

Economic deal between US and Ukraine will tie the countries together for years. Here’s what it says

Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:19 , Alex Croft

A preliminary economic agreement between Ukraine and the United States would ensure long-term U.S. involvement in rebuilding the country, but the deal leaves the question of security guarantees sought by Kyiv to future negotiations.

The agreement comes after two weeks of back-and-forth between Kyiv and Washington over how the U.S. could gain access to Ukraine’s natural resources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted that specific assurances for Ukrainian security must accompany a deal on those resources.

U.S. President Donald Trump planned to meet with Zelenskyy on Friday at the White House to sign the pact, which will closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

Read about what the deal says here:

Economic deal between US and Ukraine will tie the countries together for years. Here’s what it says

Zelensky to join European leaders in London meeting this weekend

Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:58 , Alex Croft

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders in London on the weekend.

Mr Zelensky plans to make the trip after flying to Washington on Friday to meet US president Donald Trump.

Sir Keir said earlier on Wednesday he will host leaders of Italy, Germany, Poland and other allies on Sunday to discuss their response to Donald Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine.

Later on Saturday, an Elysee source confirmed French president Emmanuel Macron – who met with Mr Trump earlier in the week – will also attend the talks in London.

Sir Keir Starmer visited Kyiv in January to sign a 100-year security deal (PA Wire)

More than 1,000 British staff cut from key Ukraine troop training programme

Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:38 , Alex Croft

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

The number of British personnel working on an international training program for Ukrainian soldiers has fallen by more than 1,000 in the last 2.5 years, new figures reveal.

The decline marks a 73 per cent reduction in the UK staffing of the British-led Operation Interflex that has trained over 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers to resist Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

It comes as Britain and its European allies scramble to bolster their own defences amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump and stark warnings about their defence capabilities.

1,000 UK staff cut from key Ukraine defence programme, new figures reveal

Watch: Ukraine needs clarity on US military support, Zelensky says

Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:20 , Alex Croft

Ukraine war in numbers: Full toll of Russia’s invasion, three years on

Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:00 , Alex Croft

Three years after Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion, Ukraine still faces a very uncertain future.

Just one month after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the US president has thrown whatever hopes Kyiv had for future American support into chaos.

In the last week alone he has launched repeated attacks on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, falsely branding him a “dictator” and wrongly accusing Ukraine of “starting” the war.

And so Ukraine now finds itself fighting a war on two fronts: the grind against the Russian invaders to the east, and the battle to keep Mr Trump on side to the west.

Here, The Independent looks at the very real costs of three years of war in Europe – financially, militarily and on the lives of the men and women who continue to fight for their freedom.

Alicja Hagopian and Tom Watling report:

Ukraine war in numbers: Full toll of Russia’s invasion three years on

Criminal investigation launched against pro-Russia Georgian candidate Georgescu

Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:41 , Alex Croft

Romanian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation against pro-Russia former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu.

Georgescu was the far-right frontrunner in last year’s cancelled presidential election, a ballot which was cancelled due to suspected Russian interference in the 62-year-old’s favour.

Prosecutors have now launched an investigation amid accusations of wrongdoing ranging from campaign funding fraud and promoting antisemitism and hate speech to acts against the constitutional order.

After questioning Georgescu for several hours on Wednesday, prosecutors said they were formally investigating him on accusations of forming an antisemitic organisation, promoting war criminals and fascist organisations, and communicating false information.

US and Russian officials to meet in Istanbul on Thursday

Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:26 , Alex Croft

Russian and US diplomats will discuss restoring their diplomatic missions in talks on Istanbul on Thursday, both sides said on Wednesday.

US president Donald Trump is reversing his predecessor Joe Biden’s policy of isolating Russia as he looks to rebuild ties with between the White House and Moscow.

The rapprochement began with a call between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on February 12. A high-level meeting between the two sides last week in Riyadh followed.

Delegations led by US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to discuss diplomatic missions while in Saudi Arabia.

US and Russian officials met in Riyadh last week (AP)

Trump announces 25 per cent tariff on EU goods

Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:10 , Alex Croft

Donald Trump has unofficially announced a 25 per cent tariff on goods from the European Union, accusing the bloc of being formed to “screw the United States”.

Speaking during his first cabinet meeting, the US president said: “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States, that’s the purpose of it. And they’ve done a good job of it. But now I’m president.”

The president says his administration planned to impose tariffs on the EU “very soon”.

“It will be 25 per cent, generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all other things,” he said, adding that the EU is a “different case than Canada… they’ve really taken advantage of us in a different way”.

Trump: We want to get as much of Ukraine back as possible

Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:48 , Alex Croft

The US wants to get as much of Ukraine back as possible in peace negotiations with Russia, president Donald Trump said in a cabinet meeting.

“We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides,” he said.

“But for Ukraine we’re going to try very hard to make a good deal to get as much back as possible. We want to get as much back as possible.”

(Getty Images)

Ukraine to set up high-level courts as part of reform drive

Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:35 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s parliament has approved a measure that would allow for the setting up of new courts to settle high-level political disputes, as part of a reform effort being closely watched by Kyiv’s Western partners.

The courts’ creation is a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for it to continue its $15.6bn financing programme for Ukraine.

The Kyiv-based courts, which would hear cases involving state institutions, such as ministries or other central agencies, would replace a body that was dissolved in 2022 after years of corruption allegations.

Politician Yaroslav Zhelezniak said on social media the measure to create them was passed with 234 votes and that the judges of the proposed courts would be appointed with the help of foreign advisers.

Europe, not US, will provide Ukraine with security guarantees, Trump says

Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:22 , Andy Gregory

Donald Trump has said that Europe – and not the US – will be providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters, the US president said: “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much – we’re going to have Europe do that because we’re talking about Europe is their next door neighbour. But we’re going to make sure everything goes well, and as you know we’ll be really partnering with Ukraine in terms of rare earth.

“We very much need rare earth – they have great rare earth.”

Trump criticised Biden for not speaking to Putin

Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:16 , Andy Gregory

Donald Trump has said that a deal to end the war in Ukraine would be “a big accomplishment” and sought to criticise his predecessor’s administration for having not spoken to Russia’s Vladimir Putin for two years.

“Most importantly by far, we’re going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people. They’ll stop killing young Russian soldiers and young Ukrainian soldiers and other people in addition in the towns and cities.

“We will consider that a very important thing and a big accomplishment because it was going nowhere until this administration came in – they hadn’t spoken to President Putin in two years.

“So we’ll keep you advised.”

Mr Trump’s decision to contact Mr Putin without warning earlier this month – in a three-hour call in which he appeared to make key concessions on Ukraine’s future – shocked many of Washington’s allies, who have sought to isolate the Russian president internationally since his invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Trump says Zelensky will visit Washington to sign deal on Friday

Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:03 , Andy Gregory

Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign a critical minerals deal.

“It’s now confirmed and we’re going to be signing an agreement which will be a very big agreement,” Mr Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House.

Mr Trump repeated his claim that the US has contributed $350bn to Ukraine’s defence – a figure significantly higher than estimated by analysts – and insisted this was triple the amount contributed by European nations.

He said: “It’s very important to everybody, but Europe is very close. We have a big ocean separating us. So it’s very important for Europe, and they hopefully will step up and do maybe more than they are doing, and maybe a lot more.”

Mr Trump added: “We’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get a lot of money back, and we’re going to get a lot of money in the future, and I think that’s appropriate because we have taxpayers that shouldn’t be footing the bill, and shouldn’t be footing the bill at more than the Europeans are paying.

“So it’s all been worked out, we’re happy about it and I think that very importantly we’re going to be able to make a deal. Most importantly by far, we’re going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people.”

(Getty Images)

Russia claims European peacekeeping force would draw Ukraine into Nato

Wednesday 26 February 2025 22:02 , Tom Watling

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed the Kremlin strongly opposes the positioning of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, claiming it is a “deceit … aimed at pumping Ukraine with weapons”. He did not provide evidence to back these claims.

His comments contradict remarks from US president Donald Trump, who said earlier this week that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had told him Moscow has comfortable with the idea of European peacekeepers.

The head of the Russian delegation in talks with the US also claimed that such discussion was empty talk, according to Russian state media site Tass.

The peacekeeping force, proposed by French president Emmanuel Macron and endorsed by Sir Keir Starmer, is intended as a security guarantee against future Russian aggression towards Ukraine.

Lavrov visited Qatar on Wednesday (RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/AFP via)

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Starmer-Trump meeting live: PM to use crunch talks to tell president US backstop needed to deter Putin

• Holly Evans and Jane Dalton
• Thu 27 February 2025 at 2:11 pm GMT+7·25-min read
• Sir Keir Starmer will use his crucial talks with US president Donald Trump to demand a US backstop for Ukraine in order to deter further Russian aggression.
• The prime minister has made clear that he will stand up to Mr Trump on the issue of Ukraine as he flies to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between the White House and Downing Street.
• Speaking to journalists on the plane to the US, Sir Keir said he will insist that Russian president Vladimir Putin must be seen as the aggressor and that negotiations for Ukraine’s future must involve Kyiv.
• On Sunday, Sir Keir will host the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Poland to discuss a response to Mr Trump’s push for a peace settlement, as Kyiv and its allies scramble to secure more control over negotiations.
• Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is also planning to attend the talks in London.
• Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir declined to say whether money for a deal with the Chagos Islands would come out of the increase in defence spending.
• He told the Commons the increase was for “our capability on defence” and that the controversial deal with Mauritius was “extremely important” for national security.

Key Points

• Starmer to face up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks
• Zelensky joins UK meeting of European leaders
• Starmer takes the gloves off with Badenoch
• Rachel Reeves urges Europe to raise defence spending
• Ukraine agrees to minerals deal with the US amid plans for peace talks

This is a can-do, will-do Starmer – more of the same, please

• 07:17 , Holly Evans
• Cometh the hour, cometh the man – or something to that effect. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are engaging in their love-in, blowing a gaping hole in Europe’s security cordon, and into the breach steps another strong leader: Keir Starmer. That is how Downing Street would like to paint the move to swap international aid for defence.
• Sure, it’s contrary to Labour’s manifesto, the one that got Starmer elected. Yes, it also happens to be directly in tune with Reform’s manifesto: the one that may block his re-election. To go there is to indulge in political frippery.
• Nevertheless, as if to ram home the symbolism, Starmer delivers his news flanked by union jacks. Pure Nigel Farage. As for the Tory agenda, he’s stealing theirs as well.
• Read the full analysis here:
• 
• This is a can-do, will-do Starmer – more of the same, please

Ex-Sunak aide calls for Trump-style mineral deal with Ukraine

• 07:00 , Jane Dalton
• Britain should seek a similar economic deal like that struck by Donald Trump to secure access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals in exchange for UK assistance, a former adviser to Rishi Sunak has suggested.
• Highlighting the significant contribution made by the nation to its war-ravaged ally, Conservative peer and ex-Morgan Stanley executive Lord Petitgas told Parliament that it “feels like something is missing”.
• Pointing to the support provided by the EU and Britain to Ukraine, he said: “When it comes to the question of sending troops, not having anything on the rare earth deal and then chasing the Russians, it feels like something is missing. What is the Government’s position on that?”

As Starmer meets Trump, the challenges facing prime minister

• 06:30 , Jane Dalton
• 
• As Starmer meets Trump – what challenges face the UK’s prime minister?

Opinon: How we should spend defence budget to be safer

• 05:45 , Jane Dalton
• 
• The defence hike is prompting fantasies about new kit – what we need is more soldiers

Ukrainian refugees could be housed in Russian oligarch’s properties

• 05:00 , Jane Dalton
• Officials will look into using properties owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to house Ukrainian refugees, a foreign office minister has said.
• The suggestion was made after Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies should move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them, with the proceeds used to assist Ukraine.
• In Parliament, Labour peer Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe said: “Many of the assets which are frozen are properties. Many of those properties are empty.
• “I look across the Thames and see a great building where Abramovich had floors in the building.
• “Will the Government explore the possibility of using those empty buildings, and in particular using them for Ukrainians and immigration?”
• Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington said it was “an interesting idea” and committed to take it back to her department for it to be explored by civil servants.
• 
• Roman Abramovich (AP)

Reeves says Europe must follow UK’s lead and ‘step up’ defence spending

• 04:05 , Jane Dalton
• 
• Reeves tells Europe to follow UK’s lead and ‘step up’ defence spending

How much UK foreign aid is spent and who receives it?

• 03:30 , Jane Dalton
• 
• UK foreign aid: How much is spent and who receives it as Starmer slashes budget

ICYMI: Voters want young Britons to be able to live in Europe

• 03:00 , Jane Dalton
• In case you missed it: Two-thirds of voters want young Britons to be able to live and work in Europe:
• 
• Two-thirds of voters ‘want young Britons to be able to live and work in Europe’

Tories accused of scaremongering over pub pints

• 01:45 , Jane Dalton
• Pubs will not be banned from selling pints, a minister has insisted.
• Treasury minister James Murray rejected Conservative claims that the Government wants to use new legislation to allow it to “ban pubs from selling pints”.
• The Lib Dems accused the Tories of scaremongering after the Opposition tabled a Commons motion raising concerns over the impact of Government policy on family businesses, including a claim that a pint ban would be possible under the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill.
• Tory former minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom has previously claimed the “careless drafting” of the Bill, currently being debated in the Lords, would open the door for the British pint to be replaced as a standard measure for beer should a “metric maniac” hold the relevant Cabinet role.
• For the Government, Mr Murray said it was “frankly absurd” for the Tories to suggest the pint was under threat.
• He told the Commons: “The pint is part of our nation, we do not need a new law to protect the pint any more than we need a new law to say the sun must rise in the morning.
• “I wonder, frankly, whether the members opposite who drafted that part of the motion may have been close to a number of pints at the point at which they did so.”

Cummings backs Reform UK for local elections

• 00:30 , Jane Dalton
• Former Boris Johnson aide Dominic Cummings has called for voters to back Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the May local elections.
• He did not say who he would vote for if there was an imminent general election. But, amid a furious backlash at Labour’s policies so far, he said everyone should back Mr Farage’s party in May.
• Asked who he would vote for in a national election, Mr Cummings said: “Dunno yet, but obviously everyone should vote Reform this spring, no downsides, just upsides.”
• A mass Reform vote, with the party surging in the polls, would pile major pressure on Sir Keir Starmer while helping Mr Farage paint his party as the real opposition to Labour.

Zelensky plans UK visit

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 23:30 , Jane Dalton
• Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to come to the UK this weekend, it’s understood.
• It is thought that Mr Zelensky is planning to make the trip as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to host a summit of European leaders to discuss defence.
• US President Donald Trump has also said that Mr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign an economic deal that will include US access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals in exchange for American arms.
• Sir Keir said on Tuesday: “I have spoken to President Zelensky a number of times.
• “I spoke to him on Wednesday night, as the democratically elected leader in Ukraine, [and] I spoke to him again on Saturday.
• “I have spoken to President Macron this afternoon on his return to France, and I am hosting a number of countries at the weekend for us to continue to discuss how we go forward together as allies in light of the situation that we face.”

Analysis | Chagos could prove a thorny issue in Starmer Trump meeting

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 23:14 , Jane Dalton
• Political editor David Maddox writes:
• One issue, which Trump has been quiet on but remains a thorn in the relationship, will be Chagos.
• This visit will decide in effect if the deal of handing over the Indian Ocean islands goes ahead. At the moment – given the way he has tried to reclaim the Panama Canal, control Greenland and Canada – many expect Trump to veto the deal.
• It would be another humiliation for a British prime minister whose softly-softly approach to this most rightwing of US presidents over Ukraine and other issues is already attracting criticism and concern.
• But Trump’s love of the Royal family and the apparent desire for the King or Prince and Princess of Wales to have an official visit may yet prove to be Sir Keir’s trump card.

How a fraudster helped fund Farage’s trip to meet Musk

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 22:58 , Jane Dalton
• Nigel Farage’s trip to Florida to meet tech billionaire Elon Musk was partly funded by convicted fraudster George Cottrell, records show:
• 
• How a fraudster helped fund Farage’s US trip to meet Musk

Analysis | Sir Keir does not have Macron’s gallic charm – can he still woo Trump?

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 22:42 , Alex Croft
• Political editor David Maddox writes:
• The traditional gifts for Keir Starmer’s visit to see Donald Trump for the first time since the inauguration have yet to be announced, but it is a fair bet that the prime minister will hand the US president an Arsenal shirt with the number 47 (for 47th president) on it.
• The shirt of the prime minister’s favourite football team has been his safe go-to gift for all his first meetings with previous world leaders and this is one trip above all where he will be wanting to play safe.
• Insiders have told The Independent that Sir Keir will receive a “respectful” and even “warm” greeting from the new president – at least publicly – and we’re likely to see similar jovial treatment in the Oval Office in front of journalists as French president Emmanuel Macron did earlier this week.
• The trouble is that Sir Keir does not appear to have Macron’s gallic charm. In fact, referring back to his obsession with football, people around Trump have suggested the British prime minister “is a bore”.
• But Starmer certainly seems all too eager to please his host, and there is widespread speculation that there will be an announcement on Trump visiting the UK and addressing the Houses of Parliament as well as a possible Royal visit to the US – both of which should help the prime minister curry favour with his US counterpart.

Starmer to face up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 22:31 , Alex Croft
• Keir Starmer has made it clear he intends to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine as he jets over to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between a US president and British prime minister.
• Speaking to journalists on the flight over the Atlantic, Sir Keir insisted that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has to be viewed as the aggressor.
• He will make clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, and will push for Europe to play a greater part in global defence.
• However, in a challenging meeting which will also encompass awkward conversations on plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, trade deals and a potential visit by President Trump, Sir Keir was keen to talk up the relationship between the two.
• Political editor David Maddox reports:
• 
• Starmer faces up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks

Tory MP accuses Starmer and Trump of ‘unimaginable damage’ over foreign aid cuts

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 21:35 , Jane Dalton
• 
• Rory Stewart says Starmer and Trump both responsible for ‘unimaginable damage’

Lammy admits Trump can veto Chagos deal

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:45 , Jane Dalton
• 
• Lammy admits Trump can veto Chagos deal as president prepares to confront Starmer

Opinon: How we should spend defence budget to be safer

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:15 , Jane Dalton
• 
• The defence hike is prompting fantasies about new kit – what we need is more soldiers

Priti Patel accuses Labour of ‘surrender’ over Chagos

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:45 , Jane Dalton
• Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused Labour of putting forward a “surrender” deal as she moved a Commons motion calling for greater transparency on the Chagos Islands negotiations.
• The Opposition motion asks the Government to release a chronology of negotiations between the Government and Mauritius since July last year.
• It also asks ministers to explain how the deal will be funded, the involvement of Attorney General Lord Hermer and why the Government sought to accelerate negotiations.
• Asked why she was criticising a deal when the Tories started the negotiations, Dame Priti told the Commons: “It’s not the Conservative Party that’s putting forward a surrender deal. We’re not surrendering our territory or sovereignty in any way whatsoever.”

Starmer accused of ‘cover-up’ in row over £9bn Chagos funding

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:17 , Jane Dalton
• 
• Starmer accused of defence spend ‘cover-up’ in row over £9bn Chagos deal funding

Briton running Ukraine drone factory calls for UK government funds

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:55 , Jane Dalton
• A British volunteer who runs a drone factory in Ukraine is appealing to the UK government for funding after a visit from a group of cross-party MPs.
• Richard Woodruff, from East Sussex, who has been based in Lviv in western Ukraine since 2022, says his kamikaze drones have destroyed more than £79m worth of Russian equipment in a year.
• Crowdfunded by private donations, the 7in-to10in first-person view (FPV) drones, armed with explosives, carry out targeted attacks on military equipment and supplies.
• The 31-year-old said he was encouraged by a visit from a group of cross-party MPs who travelled to Lviv over the weekend.
• Mr Woodruff said the 14 MPs, including representatives from Labour, the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, pledged to lobby for backing from the UK Government to support the factory’s drone production efforts.
• 
• Richard Woodruff has received an honorary badge for his support of the Ukrainian army (Richard Woodruff/PA Wire)

More than 1,000 UK staff cut from Ukraine troop scheme

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:35 , Jane Dalton
• The number of British personnel working on an international training program for Ukrainian soldiers has fallen by more than 1,000 in the last 2.5 years, new figures reveal:
• 
• 1,000 UK staff cut from key Ukraine defence programme, new figures reveal

Chagos deal must have Trump backing, says minister

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:05 , Jane Dalton
• The Chagos Islands deal will not go ahead without the backing of US president Donald Trump, foreign secretary David Lammy has said.
• He told ITV’s Peston: “If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.
• “The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal.”
• 
• Foreign Secretary David Lammy (PA) (PA Wire)

Ukrainian refugees could be housed in Roman Abramovich properties

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:50 , Jane Dalton
• Using properties owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to house Ukrainian refugees will be looked at by officials, a foreign office minister has said.
• Responding to the proposal, Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington said it was “an interesting idea” and committed to take it back to her department for it to be explored by civil servants.
• The suggestion was made after Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies should move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them, with the proceeds used to assist Ukraine.
• In Parliament, Labour peer Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe said: “Many of the assets which are frozen are properties. Many of those properties are empty.
• “I look across the Thames and see a great building where Abramovich had floors in the building.
• “Will the Government explore the possibility of using those empty buildings, and in particular using them for Ukrainians and immigration?”

Zelensky joins UK meeting on European leaders

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:02 , Jane Dalton
• Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky plans to join a gathering of European leaders in the UK this weekend to discuss defence and security.
• Sir Keir Starmer will on Sunday host the leaders of Italy, Germany, Poland and other allies to discuss their response to Donald Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine that has forced a radical rethink of the continent’s security.
• 
• (AFP via Getty Images)

Cabinet united over cutting aid to boost defence, Rayner insists

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:38
• Angela Rayner has said the Cabinet is united in its decision to increase defence spending while cutting the UK’s aid budget.
• The Deputy Prime Minister said: “No-one could have predicted the situation we are in in Europe at the moment, and, of course, it was absolutely right that the Prime Minister said that we had to increase defence spending because the number one responsibility of any government is to keep people safe.
• “It is devastating that we’ve had to reduce the overseas aid budget, but we had to set a balanced budget.
• “We understand the economy was in a very difficult position after 14 years of the Tories, and we’ve taken the decisive action to protect our country and to make sure that the economy is in a strong position, so that going forward we can increase the budget for overseas aid as the money becomes available.
• “The Cabinet had a discussion on it and we were all united that the number one responsibility of any government is to keep its citizens safe.”

Russia accuses UK and France of ‘heating up’ Ukraine war amid defence push

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:14 , Holly Evans
• The UK and France are “heating up the conflict” in Ukraine rather than seeking peace, Russia has suggested as Sir Keir Starmer travels to the US for crunch talks with Donald Trump.
• The Prime Minister also hit back against accusations the Government was playing “silly games” over the amount of extra funding which will be raised for Britain’s defence.
• Sir Keir announced the extra funding in response to “tyrant” Russian President Vladimir Putin and ongoing uncertainty over the US’s commitment to European security, although it comes at the expense of cuts to the UK’s aid budget.
• Speaking during a visit to Qatar, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed European nations, including the UK, were now seeking to prolong the war in Ukraine.
• “The approach that is being imposed by the Europeans, first of all France and the British, is aimed… at heating up the conflict further and stopping any attempts to calm it down,” he said, according to a translation from Russia’s state news agency, Tass.

Making the world’s most defenceless people pay for UK defence is reprehensible

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:00 , Holly Evans
• Donald Trump’s race to the bottom on international development has an energetic new entrant in the form of Keir Starmer. The prime minister has raided the UK aid budget, in a move that would have embarrassed some of his recent predecessors, so he can commit to increasing defence spending ahead of his White House meeting. It is now some of the world’s most defenceless people who will pay for the UK’s defence.
• As if to underscore the extent to which the US president has turned the established order on its head, we were treated to the strange sight of the prime minister being applauded by the leader of the opposition, while Reform complained noisily about Labour stealing their flagship policies.
• Read the full opinion article from Christian Aid boss Patrick Watt here:
• 
• Making the world’s most defenceless people pay for UK defence is reprehensible

PM departs for Washington DC

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:45 , Holly Evans
• Sir Keir Starmer’s plane has departed for Washington DC from a London airport, and is due to land at Joint Base Andrews in about eight hours.
• He is due to meet the US president at the White House tomorrow.
• Also onboard is our political editor David Maddox, who will be bringing us all the latest over the next 24 hours as Trump and Starmer discuss the future of Ukraine and Europe’s security.

Lib Dems accuse Tories of ‘scaremongering’ over pint under threat claims

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:32 , Holly Evans
• Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said the Tories’ claim that the pint is under threat is “scaremongering” and “total nonsense”.
• She told MPs: “What on earth is this absurd idea in the Opposition day motion that the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will somehow put the British pint under threat?
• “The pint is well and truly safe, something that I’m sure this entire House wants to hear. The pint is enshrined in law, in the Weights and Measures Act, so this scaremongering is just total nonsense. I would be tempted to call it a load of old codswallop but I would not want to insult the makers of that very fine pale ale.
• “I could instead accuse them of scraping the barrel but let us just say that the Conservatives’ claim that the pint will be abolished is as fanciful as Labour’s claim that punters will see a penny taken off the price of their pint. They won’t. Frankly, if the Opposition think that they are standing up for pubs, they need to think again.”

More than 1,000 British staff cut from key Ukraine troop training programme

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:08 , Holly Evans
• The number of British personnel working on an international training program for Ukrainian soldiers has fallen by more than 1,000 in the last 2.5 years, new figures reveal.
• The decline marks a 73 per cent reduction in the UK staffing of the British-led Operation Interflex that has trained over 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers to resist Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
• It comes as Britain and its European allies scramble to bolster their own defences amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump and stark warnings about their defence capabilities.
• Read the full exclusive from Millie Cooke here:
• 
• 1,000 UK staff cut from key Ukraine defence programme, new figures reveal

British firms not swayed by US push to scrap diversity goals, says minister

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:03 , Holly Evans
• The UK’s employment rights minister has said he does not expect British businesses to follow the lead of US rivals scrapping diversity goals despite concerns following Donald Trump’s presidency in the US.
• Labour MP Justin Madders said UK firms have their “own approach” to equality, amid pressure from the American government to scale back initiatives.
• “There’s obviously an extra level of dialogue going on in terms of internal company discussions but I think the commitment and the benefits are very clearly laid out and I don’t see UK companies going down that road,” he said.
• Several large businesses in the US, including Google, Meta, Amazon and McDonald’s, have scaled back their diversity programmes following Mr Trump’s presidential election victory.
• Mr Trump signed a flurry of executive orders after being sworn in last month, including dialling back transgender protections and ending federal government diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes.
• But on Tuesday, Apple shareholders rejected a proposal calling on the technology giant to join Mr Trump’s push to abandon programmes designed to diversify workforces.

Europe cannot sustain 100,000-strong Ukraine peacekeeping force, former British army chief warns

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 14:51 , Holly Evans
• European nations would have to send at least 100,000 troops to keep the peace in Ukraine and “none of them can do it”, a former head of the British armed forces has warned.
• General Lord Richards called for Nato countries to be “very grown up” and “live within what is physically and militarily possible”, rather than “what our political leaders sometimes would aspire to do”.
• The former chief of the defence staff warned it is “inevitable” that Russia will seek to test any defence force placed in Ukraine in the event of a deal to end the war. “If we send troops, they will be tested, and they have to robustly be able to defend themselves,” Lord Richards told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
• Read the full article here:
• 
• Europe cannot sustain massive Ukraine peacekeeping force, former army chief warns

Badenoch suggests ‘cover-up’ of Chagos money deal

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 14:39 , Holly Evans
• Speaking after Prime Minister’s Questions, a spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: “I think this all points to what amounts to really a cover-up of where this money for the Chagos surrender is coming from.
• “It is incumbent on the Government as soon as possible to come and explain where the money is coming from, and if it is coming from the defence budget it makes all of the announcements over the last 24 hours seem (to be) ringing increasingly hollow.”
• On Tuesday a Conservative former defence minister suggested that money earmarked for the Chagos deal could instead be spent on the armed forces.
• Andrew Murrison asked the Prime Minister: “Will he look at other things that perhaps present easier choices, and in particular, his choice to spend billions of pounds on Mauritius? And will he repurpose that money in defence of our armed forces?”

Starmer declines to say whether defence spending increase includes Chagos cash

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 14:24 , Holly Evans
• Sir Keir Starmer has declined to say whether money for a deal with the Chagos Islands would come out of the increase in defence spending.
• The Prime Minister told the Commons that the increase to 2.5% of GDP announced on Tuesday is for “our capability on defence and security in Europe”, and described the deal being negotiated with Mauritius as “extremely important for our security”.
• The UK is in talks with Mauritius about handing over sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, but leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base which is used by the US.
• The Conservatives have called on ministers to explain as soon as possible if money for the deal will come out of the uplift announced on Tuesday.
• Earlier on Wednesday, Defence Secretary John Healey did not say whether the Chagos money was included when asked, and the issue was pressed by Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Watch: Diane Abbott rebukes Keir Starmer over foreign aid cut

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 14:04 , Holly Evans

Dominic Cummings backs Reform UK for local elections

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 14:03 , Holly Evans
• Dominic Cummings has called for voters to back Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the May local elections. The former Boris Johnson aide did not say who he would vote for if there was an imminent general election.
• But, amid a furious backlash at Labour’s policies so far, he said everyone should back Mr Farage’s party in May.
• Asked who he would vote for in a national election, Mr Cummings said: “Dunno yet, but obviously everyone should vote Reform this spring, no downsides, just upsides.”
• A mass Reform vote, with the party surging in the polls, would pile major pressure on Sir Keir Starmer while helping Mr Farage paint his party as the real opposition to Labour.

Seven organisations face government contract ban

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 13:22 , Jane Dalton
• 
• Seven organisations face government contract ban over Grenfell Tower tragedy

Seven companies face new Grenfell probe

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 13:18 , Jane Dalton
• Investigations will be launched into seven organisations criticised in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, with the potential they could be banned from public contracts in future.
• They are: Arconic Architectural Products SAS; Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited which previously owned Celotex Limited; Exova (UK) Limited; Harley Facades Limited; Kingspan Insulation Limited; Rydon Maintenance Limited; and Studio E Architects Limited.
• Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary Georgia Gould said the firms would be investigated under new debarment powers in the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect on Monday.
• She said: “These investigations will establish whether the organisations have engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of that Act.”
• The organisations will be notified when an investigation is opened, she said, adding that investigations into other organisations could also take place.

Government to take ‘tough action’ to avoid future tragedies

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:55 , Holly Evans
• Angela Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, said: ”We are acting on all of the inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again.
• “That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.
• “We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”
• Grenfell Next of Kin, a group representing some of the bereaved, said it will be “paying close attention to these words and intentions” from Government, as it repeated criticism of the “grave mistakes, failures, corruption” it said had led to the deaths.
• The group: “We can never forget our beloved kin and we can never forgive the negligence and corruption that led to their deaths.
• “The injustice is so great and the measures being put in place now with new laws and reforms are welcomed, but should have been basic requirements for a developed country such as ours.
• 
• The government have responded to the Grenfell Tower inquiry findings (PA)
• “Nevertheless let’s move forward in the right direction.”

‘Every single death was avoidable’, Rayner stresses

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:51 , Holly Evans
• Offering her condolences to the families of the victims and the survivors of the deadly blaze, Angela Rayner stresses that the inquiry concluded that “every single death was avoidable”.
• “The inquiry uncovered serial incompetence and negligence, complacency and inaction – and blatant dishonesty and greed.”
• She also added that to her “disgust and their shame”, several of those companies involved had shown “little remorse” and had failed to rectify the issues in the construction of the tower.
• The deputy prime minister announced plans to appoint a single construction regulator and a chief construction advisor and added that new powers will be used to investigate a number of firms.

Grenfell Tower fire was a ‘national tragedy that must never happen again’

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:47 , Holly Evans
• Referring to the inquiry report that was published in September, Angela Rayner said: “All members of the house will have shared my anger of its shocking findings.”
• Referring to the “damning evidence or political, corporate and individual failings going back decades”, she described it as “a deadly betrayal, a national tragedy that must never happen again”.
• “I will repeat today what the prime minister said in September, to the bereaved families, the survivors and those in the Grenfell community, on behalf of the government and the British state and those responsible, I am very sorry.”
• She said that the inquiry report made 58 recommendations, 37 of which were directed at the government, all of which will be taken forward.
• 
• Angela Rayner is delivering a statement on the Grenfell Tower inquiry (Sky News)

Angela Rayner delivers statement on Grenfell

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:44 , Holly Evans
• Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is now delivering a statement on the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
• She said the tragedy, which killed 72 people in 2017 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, must be the catalyst for “long-lasting, systemic change”.

Putin has made Nato ‘stronger and larger’, PM says

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:42 , Holly Evans
• When asked by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt if the UK would increase defence spending to 3 per cent, Starmer said: “I agree with him entirely in terms of the priority, in terms of NATO.
• “Putin thought he could weaken NATO. He’s only made it stronger and larger.
• “NATO’s strength comes from the US and European partners and others working together and that is absolutely the focus of my work at the moment.”
• He says “it is right” that, European countries, including the UK, need to do more on defence spend.

UK plans to ‘strengthen’ relationship with US, Starmer insists

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 12:40 , Holly Evans
• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked the PM if he backs the idea of a new European rearmament bank, adding that it is “clear” that the UK will not be able to rely on the US any longer under Trump.
• Sir Keir Starmer replied: “I’ll resist the suggestion we have to choose between the US and our European partners. I do not believe that to be the case.
• “And I want to strengthen our already strong relationship with the US, because I think it’s vital that we do so.
• “I, of course, want to work with our European allies on defence capability and what more we need to do in relation to capability, coordination, and funding.”
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Starmer faces up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks

• David Maddox
• Thu 27 February 2025 at 5:30 am GMT+7·5-min read
• Scroll back up to restore default view.
• Keir Starmer has made it clear he intends to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine as he jets over to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between a US president and British prime minister.
• Speaking to journalists on the flight over the Atlantic, Sir Keir insisted that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has to be viewed as the aggressor.
• He will make clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, and will push for Europe to play a greater part in global defence.
• However, in a challenging meeting which will also encompass awkward conversations on plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, trade deals and a potential visit by President Trump, Sir Keir was keen to talk up the relationship between the two.
• The prime minister insisted that “there is no issue between us” on Ukraine as he jetted out – attempting to play down disagreements in the past two weeks.
• He said: “Of course, the president has been very clear about the peace that he wants. He’s right about that. We all want peace. The question is, how do we make sure it’s a lasting peace? There’s no issue between us on this.”
• His words came as it was revealed he plans to host Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders for a defence summit this weekend.
• With talks on tariffs being imposed by the US and concerns by the Trump administration, inflamed by Elon Musk, on free speech in the UK regarding social media, Sir Keir will be keen to remind the president that the two countries share trade worth $400bn, which supports more than 2.5 million jobs across both countries.
• The prime minister will join the president at the White House on Thursday, before a tete a tete at the Oval Office. He will be accompanied by the foreign secretary, David Lammy.
• Last week, President Trump shocked allies in the West by calling President Zelensky a dictator and arranging a meeting in Saudi Arabia with Russia without Ukraine or Europe at the table.
• Even worse, there was fury when the US sided with autocratic regimes including China and North Korea to vote down a resolution blaming Russian aggression for the war.
• 
• Donald Trump discussing foreign policy (Getty)
• Sir Keir had to again attempt to play down concerns over his decision to slash foreign aid to fund defence spending increases – a move forced by Trump and causing grave concerns within Labour.
• But in a sign that he does not intend to capitulate in the next 24 hours, Sir Keir was insistent that Russia must be blamed for the war.
• Responding to comments from Putin’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov ruling out British or French peacekeepers in Ukraine, he said: “There’s one aggressor here and that’s Russia.”
• “Russia can end this conflict tomorrow by withdrawing and stopping their aggression. All the discussion that follows, about talks, about security guarantees, has to be seen in that context. They are the aggressor. They have invaded and occupied a sovereign country in Europe, and they bear full responsibility for the conflict,” he said.
• He was unwilling to discuss whether he believes that he can persuade President Trump to provide a US backstop to a Ukraine deal.
• “I’m not going to get ahead of the discussion I am going to have tomorrow… but the reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again. Because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see.”
• And he made clear the UK will provide peacekeeping troops if necessary stating: “We will play our part and I’ve been clear that we will need a US backstop of some sort.”
• 
• Volodymyr Zelensky has been called a dictator by Trump (Reuters)
• The prime minister insisted he has a good relationship with the president despite a difficult start regarding his choice of ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, and strains over Ukraine policy.
• He said: “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him. As you know, I’ve met him, I’ve spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together. And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength.”
• But he ducked speculation that a state visit by Trump to the UK will shortly be announced on this trip.
• “That’s a matter for His Majesty the King, a state visit. He’s very fond of the royal family, as you know.”
• Addressing anger over foreign aid he reiterated that he intends to restore it to 0.5 per cent of GDP when possible and denied he is abandoning parts of the world to Chinese and Russian influence by withdrawing UK support.
• He said: “It does not mean we’re pulling out on the global stage, far from it. And China actually hasn’t been giving that much in aid in any event.
• “But we’re not pulling away. I’ve been really clear about Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, because obviously they are conflict zones at the moment.
• “We’re not pulling out. Obviously we want to restore and increase overseas aid as soon as the economic circumstances allow us to do so.”
• The trip comes as a new YouGov poll has underlined Sir Keir’s own political struggles at home.
• The pollsters surveyed 4,693 adults in Great Britain and asked: “How good or bad do you think Keir Starmer will be at negotiating with Donald Trump?”
• Just 23 per cent said either “very good” or “fairly good”, while 57 per cent said “fairly bad” or “very bad”, and 21 per cent said they did not know.
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Zelensky says no US security guarantees agreed in minerals deal as Starmer heads to Washington for Trump talks

• Michael Howie,Rachael Burford and Matt Watts
• Thu 27 February 2025 at 12:58 am GMT+7·5-min read
• 
• Zelensky says no US security guarantees agreed in minerals deal as Starmer heads to Washington for Trump talks
• Volodymyr Zelensky has said American security guarantees for Ukraine remain to be decided after a initial deal on Ukraine minerals was agreed between Washington and Kyiv.
• The Ukrainian President said he hopes the “framework” agreement with the US, which could lead to peace in the war with Russia, “will lead to further deals”.
• But he said on Wednesday Ukraine needs to know where the United States stands on its continued military support.
• He is preparing to sign an initial deal with Donald Trump on investment in his country but said it was only the first step.
• He said he will be pushing for security guarantees for Ukraine tied to any future – wider – bilateral agreements.
• The BBC asked Mr Zelensky whether he’d walk away from the agreement if Trump did not offer the security guarantees he wanted, to which he replied, “I want to find a Nato path or something similar,” adding: “If we don’t get security guarantees, we won’t have a ceasefire, nothing will work, nothing.”
• He said preparations are being made for him to travel to Washington on Friday to meet the US president but that the trip is not yet confirmed.
• Donald Trump later at his first Cabinet meeting of his second terms as president said the trip was going ahead. He said Mr Zelensky would sign a “very big agreement”.
• 
• Trump at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon (AFP via Getty Images)
• It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is flying to the United States for his own crunch talks with Trump in Washington.
• The Prime Minister is travelling to the White House on Wednesday after facing his weekly grilling in the House of Commons. The trip follows his announcement of a dramatic increase in defence spending, paid for by cutting the international aid budget.
• Kyiv’s draft minerals deal which had been pushed for by the new US administration no longer contains an initial demand from the US for $500billion in potential revenue from the rare minerals after Mr Zelensky claimed the share would have been akin to selling his nation.
• See also: What minerals does Ukraine have?
• Ukraine appears satisfied the new agreement will eventually lead to a continued flow of US military support in its war against Russia.
• But the document does not provide a US commitment to give security guarantees to Kyiv in the wake of any ceasefire deal with Vladimir Putin – something the Ukrainians have been desperately seeking.
• However, once signed, it could unlock a new long-term partnership between Kyiv and the White House after weeks of increasingly tense exchanges, with Mr Trump branding Mr Zelensky a “dictator”.
• Defence Secretary John Healey said on Wednesday the accord would be a “good thing” if it helps “shape” long-term peace.
• 
• “In the end, that detail’s a matter for the two countries, and we’ll see the detail emerge, but peace is part of a process,” Mr Healey told Times Radio.
• “We’re at an early stage, and if this helps shape the long-term peace that’s required in Ukraine, then that’s a good thing.
• “In the meantime, my job as defence minister is to make sure that we help keep Ukraine in the fight as strong as possible and that we don’t jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.”
• Mr Trump views the minerals deal as a fair way to recoup the billions of dollars that the US has given Ukraine – via weapons and financial support – in its fight against Russia invaders.
• The Kremlin said on Wednesday that preparations were being made for expert-level talks between Russia and the United States to follow up on a high-level meeting last week and an earlier call between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
• Meanwhile, European nations must “step up and do more on defence”, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said after the UK pledged to raise defence spending from its current 2.3% to 2.5% of the UK’s economic output by 2027.
• See also: Inside the relationship of Donald Trump and Keir Starmer
• Sir Keir will follow French president Emmanuel Macron in visiting Mr Trump in Washington DC and Mr Zelensky is expected to visit on Friday.
• The PM insisted the increase in defence funding was “very much my decision” when questioned whether the US was now setting UK defence policy.
• The UK will spent £13.4 billion more on defence every year from 2027, according to Sir Keir, something he acknowledged will require “extremely difficult and painful choices”.
• To fund “the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027, a move which triggered fierce criticisms from charities.
• The Prime Minister defended his choice, telling reporters it was “necessary for the protection of our country”.
• Writing in the Daily Mail, the Prime Minister said Britain’s national security had “entered a new era”.
• “Russia, North Korea, Iran – we now face enemies who would happily extinguish the light of democracy given the chance,” he wrote. “And they are increasingly prepared to work together to threaten our interests.
• “We cannot hide from this threat. I know that working people have already felt the impact of Russian brutality through rising bills and prices.
• “But unless Ukraine is properly protected from Putin, then Europe will only become more unstable. That will hurt us even more.”
• Writing in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Chancellor Ms Reeves urged European nations to follow the UK’s lead in raising defence spending, amid uncertainty over the US’s commitment to European security.
• “This is a generational moment for our continent. All of us must step up and do more on defence,” she said, as she travels to South Africa to meet with G20 finance ministers.
• European leaders will meet in the UK over the weekend to discuss future defence, Sir Keir revealed, a gathering likely to feature leaders from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.
• Sir Keir and Mr Macron both “reiterated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations” when they spoke over the phone on Tuesday.
• Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said the minerals deal was part of wider talks between the two countries.
• “We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” she told the Financial Times.
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Ukraine’s Zelensky plans to visit UK this weekend

• David Lynch and Caitlin Doherty, PA
• Thu 27 February 2025 at 1:03 am GMT+7·3-min read
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to come to the UK this weekend, the PA news agency understands.
• It is thought that Mr Zelensky is planning to make the trip as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to host a summit of European leaders to discuss defence.
• US President Donald Trump has also said that Mr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign an economic deal that will include US access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals in exchange for American arms.
• At a press conference in Downing Street on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said he is hosting “a number of countries” for defence discussions this weekend.
• Sir Keir said: “I have spoken to President Zelensky a number of times.
• “I spoke to him on Wednesday night, as the democratically elected leader in Ukraine, I spoke to him again on Saturday.
• “I have spoken to President Macron this afternoon on his return to France, and I am hosting a number of countries at the weekend for us to continue to discuss how we go forward together as allies in light of the situation that we face.”
• The proposed visit will come after the Prime Minister’s trip to Washington for crunch talks with Mr Trump.
• French President Emmanuel Macron pushed for security guarantees to enforce peace in Ukraine as he preceded Sir Keir in meeting the US president this week.
• The Prime Minister, who is expected to advance a similar case to Mr Trump, has previously said an American “backstop” would be needed to uphold a ceasefire after pledging to put UK troops on the ground to police the peace.
• 
• President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington (Pool via AP)
• But Mr Trump poured cold water on suggestions the US would provide a security guarantee.
• Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, the president said: “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much.
• “We’re going to have Europe do that, because we’re talking about Europe as the next door neighbour.
• “But we’re going to make sure everything goes well and as you know, we’ll be really partnering with Ukraine in terms of rare earth. We very much need rare earth. They have great rare earth.”
• The UK upped its defence commitments days before the meeting between Sir Keir and the US leader – promising to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 – after Mr Trump had been calling on Europe to put more towards defence.
• However, the Prime Minister has hit back about accusations the Government was playing “silly games” over the figures.
• Defence Secretary John Healey suggested the real-terms increase in defence spending year on year “would be something over £6 billion”, compared with the £13.4 billion figure cited by the Prime Minister.
• 
• Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons (House of Commons)
• Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Sir Keir after the Institute for Fiscal Studies accused ministers of playing “silly games with numbers” over their claim that the defence spending increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 would mean £13.4 billion more would be spent on defence every year.
• “If you take the numbers for this financial year and then the numbers for the financial year 27/28 that’s a £13.4 billion increase,” Sir Keir told the Commons.
• “That is the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, which will put us in a position to ensure the security and defence of our country and of Europe.”
• Russia defence minister Sergey Lavrov accused Britain and France of “heating up the conflict” in Ukraine rather than seeking peace on Wednesday.
• During a visit to Qatar, he also insisted Russia is not considering any options for a peace deal which will see European soldiers on the ground in Ukraine, despite Mr Trump claiming President Vladimir Putin was open to such an arrangement.
• Mr Lavrov claimed European nations were “lying that Russia blocks negotiations” and were pursuing a “hopelessly outdated and failed” policy on Ukraine.