Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: US ‘intensifies demands for minerals’ as UK army delegation to go to Kyiv
Emmanuel Macron has met Volodymyr Zelensky and Keir Starmer for trilateral talks ahead of a summit with dozens of EU leaders in Paris today to discuss how to strengthen military support for Ukraine, review ceasefire efforts, and assess what role they could play if a peace deal is struck with Russia.
The French president warned that European troops deployed to Ukraine would respond to a Russian attack on the eve of a meeting in Paris between European members of the “coalition of the willing”.
“If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then it’s our usual framework of engagement,” he said.
This comes as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un sent nearly 3,000 more troops to Russia this year to aid Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, South Korea’s military said in its latest assessment this morning.
Additionally, North Korea has also sent more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia in a move that can increase Moscow’s weapons supplies further depending on the war situation, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Coalition of the willing summit ‘very constructive’: Starmer
The prime minister is hosting Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky at the UK Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, following the meeting with European leaders on strengthening support for Ukraine.
The pair were earlier cheered as they left the “coalition of the willing” meeting at the Elysee Palace.
In brief comments before their bilateral meeting, Sir Keir said the discussion between world leaders was “very constructive” and “bigger than we’ve had before”.
“There was absolute clarity that Russia was trying to delay, is playing games,” the Prime Minister said.
Rattled Zelensky thanks Starmer and Macron for support
A rattled looking Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron for their support after meetings with the pair at the “coalition of the willing” gathering.
Speaking outside the British ambassador’s house in Paris, the Ukrainian president highlighted promises from world leaders to work together on security guarantees.
He also piled pressure on the prime minister to commit to keeping British sanctions on Russia in place until Vladimir Putin’s troops fully withdraw from Ukraine, as the EU has now promised.
The Ukrainian president looked worried, but the body language between him and Sir Keir was warm, and the PM embraced Mr Zelensky before leading him inside for a one-to-one meeting.
Starmer leaves summit with Zelensky
Sir Keir Starmer has left the multilateral summit on Ukraine’s security with the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The pair will have a brief one-on-one discussion, before the Prime Minister holds a press conference a little later on this afternoon.
Tell coalition of the willing to stop buying Russian oil, Starmer urged
One of the most powerful messages Sir Keir Starmer can send to allies in the “coalition of the willing” is that members must stop buying Russian oil.
A damning report revealed the EU last year had spent more on Russian oil and gas than it had sent to Ukraine in financial aid, despite promising to wind down purchasing energy from Russia.
And, asked by The Independent what the prime minister needs to tell European allies, Sir Bill Browder said: “the EU needs to put its money where its mouth is and stop buying Russian oil”.
He added: “The US is talking about lifting sanctions on Russia which is insane and absurd and should not be done.”
The big question hanging over coalition of the willing talks
There is one big question hanging over the “coalition of the willing” talks, former national security adviser Lord Ricketts has told The Independent.
The crossbench peer said it remains unclear what any peacekeeping force assembled by the coalition’s mission would be, despite rounds of intensive talks between hundreds of military planners to figure out different countries’ capabilities.
And, in a damning assessment of the group’s chances supporting itself without the backing of the US, he added: “Is it credible that Europe would deploy a military force in the face of Russian hostility and Donald Trump’s unwillingness to support?”
As ever, the UK and Europe appear unable to make major progress on the war in Ukraine without the US onside.
Crunch press conference looms for Sir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer faces a crunch press conference after the latest round of talks with the “coalition of the willing” in Paris.
The prime minister needs to urgently address growing concerns about the coalition’s capability to assert itself in Ukraine without the explicit support of Donald Trump.
He also must address an apparent lack of willingness for countries as part of the coalition to put their heads above the parapet, with just Britain and France promising to put troops on the ground as part of a peacekeeping force.
The PM has held multiple rounds of talks with fellow world leaders to organise the coalition, while hundreds of military planners from around the world held multiple meetings this week to discuss capabilities in terms of arms, cash and troops.
But despite the talks, tangible progress has eluded the PM, and the coalition of the willing appears little closer to taking shape as an actual force with authority.
Watch: Reporting from Paris on the ‘coalition of the willing’
Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell is on the ground in Paris for the ‘coalition of the willing’ talks:
Sir Bill Browder: Coalition of the willing must seize Russian central bank reserves
Sir Bill Browder has called for the “coalition of the willing” to stop “arguing about a hypothetical ceasefire which isn’t going to happen” and seize $300bn of Russian bank reserves frozen in the West.
The human rights campaigner and anti-Putin activist said the funds should be taken by Europe and handed to Ukraine to replace dwindling US support under Donald Trump.
Speaking to The Independent amid ongoing talks of the coalition of the willing in Paris, Sir Bill said: “The main thing all allies of Ukraine should be doing is coming up with a plan for how to replace US military aid for the country.“
Putin has given no indication he is going to stop fighting, he is just playing Trump for all he is worth. So this coalition of the willing is based on enforcing a ceasefire that is not going to happen.”
He said it is “clear Trump is going to throw Ukraine under the bus” and said “there is only one choice, which is to confiscate the $300bn of Russian central bank reserves”.
“That is what the coalition should be arguing about, not theoretical issues which are not going to come to fruition like the ceasefire,” Sir Bill added.
Starmer to host Zelensky at British ambassador’s residence
The Ukrainian flag is being hoisted in the sunshine above the British ambassador’s house as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to host Volodymyr Zelensky for a one-to-one meeting.
Following talks between the prime minister and his French and Ukrainian counterparts on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting of the coalition of the willing, Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky will discuss progress on talks to end the war in Ukraine.
It is a sign of the ongoing closeness between Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky, with the UK PM having played a leading role in bringing together the coalition of nations promising a peacekeeping force in Ukraine after the end of the war.
Sir Keir will meet Mr Zelensky briefly at the ambassador’s residence before hosting a press conference to update on the talks and a Q&A with journalists.
Starmer says UK, Europe ‘stepping up to defend Ukraine’
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and Europe were ready to defend the future of Ukraine, as world leaders meet in Paris this morning to discuss long-term defence support against Russia.
“We are stepping up to play our part to defend Ukraine’s future,” he wrote on X.
“Now Putin needs to show he’s willing to play ball.”
The prime minister has held several meetings in Paris this morning, including a bilateral talk with Nato chair Mark Rutte and a trilateral meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Source: independent.co.uk
