Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ phone call with other world leaders Saturday to discuss the potential deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. The call is being arranged by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It is also set to include the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Canada and New Zealand, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Albanese is open to considering a request to send Australian troops as part of a peacekeeping force, state-run media agency Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Friday, quoting sources.

Addressing reporters Friday, Opposition leader and Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in Australia Peter Dutton said that Australia should not be involved, accusing PM Albanese of “shooting from the hip”.

“It just doesn’t make any sense. Our job is to take care of our country and make sure we are safe in our region. We have supported Ukraine from day one. But not with troops on the ground. This was a thought bubble by the Prime Minister,” Dutton added, ABC reported.

Earlier Australia sent its top defence official Air Vice Marshal Di Turton at a meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Tuesday to discuss support for Ukraine. Macron hosted military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries to discuss security assurances for Ukraine following a hope for a ceasefire deal. Macron has teamed up with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead efforts to form a ‘coalition of the willing’ to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Canberra Monday warned of ‘grave consequences’ if Australia joined a ‘coalition of the willing’ proposed by the United Kingdom and France to guarantee Ukraine’s security in the event of a peace deal, something PM Anthony Albanese said he would consider.

“For Australia, joining the so-called coalition of the willing would entail grave consequences,” reported Sydney Morning Herald while quoting a statement from the Russian Embassy in Canberra.

“Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those inclined to construe the above as a threat: it is not; it is a warning. Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the special military operation,” the statement added.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong reacted strongly to the statement, saying that the Albanese government ‘won’t be intimidated’.

“Our message to Russia is: end your illegal invasion of Ukraine. We won’t be intimidated from working towards a just peace for the people of Ukraine,” she stated.

IANS

Taipei: Representatives of China, Russia and Iran called Friday for an end to US sanctions on Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program and a restart to multinational talks on the issue.

The talks are the latest attempt to broach the matter, coming after US President Donald Trump wrote to Iran’s supreme leader in an attempt to jumpstart talks.

The letter, which hasn’t been published, was offered as Trump levied new sanctions on Iran as part of his “maximum pressure” campaign that holds out the possibility of military action while emphasising he still believed a new deal could be reached.

The three nations who met Friday morning “emphasised the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read from a joint statement, flanked by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

“The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard,” Ma read.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was due to meet with the representatives later in the day.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has mocked Trump, saying he wasn’t interested in talks with a “bullying government,” although Iranian officials have offered conflicting signals over the possibility of negotiations. Trump sent a letter to Khamenei in 2019 with no apparent effect on rising tensions.

China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with France and Britain, that took part in the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal preliminary framework agreement alongside Germany and the European Union. Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions in the wider Middle East.

China and Russia have particularly close relations with Iran through energy deals, and Iran has provided Russia with bomb-carrying drones in its war against Ukraine.

They are also seen as sharing a joint interest in diminishing the role of the US and other liberal democracies in determining world events in favour of their own highly authoritarian systems.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. However, its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon. Iran now enriches uranium to near weapons-grade levels of 60%, the only country in the world without a nuclear weapons program to do so.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s program put its stockpile at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of it to 60% purity.

While Iran has maintained it won’t negotiate under duress, its economy has been savaged by the US sanctions. Protests over women’s rights, the economy and Iran’s theocracy in recent years have shaken its government.

China has sought to become more involved in Middle Eastern affairs and a year ago hosted talks leading to the full restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

AP

Brussels: In the year after Russia launched an outright war on Ukraine, NATO leaders approved a set of military plans designed to repel an invasion of Europe. It was the biggest shake-up of the alliance’s defence readiness preparations since the Cold War.

The secret plans set out how Western allies would defend NATO territory from the Atlantic to the Arctic, through the Baltic region and Central Europe, down to the Mediterranean Sea. Up to 300,000 troops would move to its eastern flank within 30 days, many of them American. That would climb to 800,000 within six months.

But the Trump administration warned last month that US priorities lie elsewhere. Europe must take care of its own security, and those goals now seem questionable. Mustering just 30,000 European troops to police any future peace in Ukraine is proving a challenge.

Billions of euros are being shifted to military budgets, but only slowly, and the Europeans are struggling to fire up production in their defence industries.

Beyond funding, tens of thousands more European citizens might have to complete military service, and time is of the essence.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that Russian forces could be capable of launching an attack on European territory in 2030.

Concerned about Russia’s intentions, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants to introduce large-scale military training for every adult male and double the size of Poland’s army to around 500,000 soldiers.

“If Ukraine loses the war or if it accepts the terms of peace, armistice or capitulation … then, without a doubt — and we can all agree on that — Poland will find itself in a much more difficult geopolitical situation,” Tusk warned lawmakers last week.

<hl2>The scale of Europe’s military personnel shortage</hl2>The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Europe, including the U.K., has almost 1.5 million active duty personnel. But many can’t be deployed on a battlefield, and those who can are hard to use effectively without a centralized command system.

The number of Russian troops in Ukraine at the end of 2024 was estimated to be around 700,000.

NATO troops are controlled by a US general, using American air transport and logistics.

Analysts say that in the event of a Russian attack, NATO’s top military officer would probably dispatch around 200,000 US troops to Europe to build on the 100,000 US military personnel already based there.

With the Americans out of the picture, “a realistic estimate may therefore be that an increase in European capacities equivalent to the fighting capacity of 300,000 U.S. troops is needed,” the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank estimates.

“Europe faces a choice: either increase troop numbers significantly by more than 300,000 to make up for the fragmented nature of national militaries, or find ways to rapidly enhance military coordination,” Bruegel said.

The question is how.

Making up the numbers

NATO is encouraging countries to build up personnel numbers, but the trans-Atlantic alliance isn’t telling them how to do it. Maintaining public support for the armed forces and Ukraine is too important to risk by dictating choices.

“The way they go about it is intensely political, so we wouldn’t prescribe any way of changing this — whether to go for conscription, elective conscription, bigger reserves,” a senior NATO official said on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief journalists unless he remained unnamed.

“We do stress the point that fighting with those regional plans means that we are in collective defence and likely in an attrition war that requires way more manpower than we currently have, or we designed our force models to deliver,” he added.

Eleven European countries have compulsory military service: Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and non-European Union nation Norway. The length of service ranges from as little as two months in Croatia to 19 months in Norway.

Poland isn’t considering a return to universal military service, but rather a reserve system based on the model in Switzerland, where every man is obliged to serve in the armed forces or an alternative civilian service. Women can volunteer.

Belgium’s new defence minister plans to write a letter in November to around 120,000 citizens who are age 18 to try to persuade at least 500 of them to sign up for voluntary military service. Debate about the issue goes on in the U.K. and Germany.

Confronting the challenges

Germany’s professional armed forces had 181,174 active service personnel at the end of last year — slightly lower than in 2023, according to a parliamentary report released Tuesday. That means it’s no closer to reaching a Defence Ministry target of 203,000 by 2031.

Last year, 20,290 people started serving in the German military, or Bundeswehr, an 8% increase, the report said. But of the 18,810 who joined in 2023, more than a quarter — 5,100 or 27% of the total — left again, most at their own request during the six-month trial period.

The German parliament’s commissioner for the armed forces, Eva Högl, said that army life is a hard sell.

“The biggest problem is boredom,” Högl said. “If young people have nothing to do, if there isn’t enough equipment and there aren’t enough trainers, if the rooms aren’t reasonably clean and orderly, that deters people, and it makes the Bundeswehr unattractive.”

At the other end of the scale, tiny Luxembourg has unique demographic challenges. Of its roughly 630,000 passport holders, only 315,000 are Luxembourgers. The number of people of military service age — 18 to 40 — is smaller still.

Around 1,000 people are enlisted. That’s small compared to some European powers, but bigger per capita than the UK armed forces. Recently, Luxembourg — where unemployment is low and salaries are high — has struggled to find just 200-300 military personnel.

Military service comes with many challenges too, not least being convincing someone to sign up when they might be sent to the front, and hastily trained conscripts can’t replace a professional army. The draft also costs money. Extra staff, accommodation and trainers are needed throughout a conscript’s term.

AP

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude to several world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, for their continued attention to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

During a press briefing Thursday, Putin acknowledged the efforts of these leaders and others for their commitment to seeking peace in the war-torn region, despite the many global challenges they face.

“I would like to start by offering my sincere thanks to President Trump of the US for his focus on the Ukraine situation. Many state leaders, including President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister Modi of India, and the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa, have been dedicating significant time to this issue. We appreciate their contributions, as it is all for the noble cause of stopping the conflict and preventing further loss of life,” Putin stated.

Prime Minister Modi has been stressing and reiterating about bringing peace to the region, thereby clearly setting India’s stance on the Russia- Ukraine conflict. During his recent meeting with Trump at the White House, PM Modi made it clear that India was not neutral in the matter, emphasising that India sides with peace.

“This is not an era of war but of dialogue and diplomacy,” PM Modi had said, underscoring India’s commitment to diplomatic efforts. PM Modi has also maintained open channels of communication with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, repeatedly stressing the need for peaceful resolution.

The US has proposed a 30-day ceasefire, urging Russia to accept the deal without any conditions.

Putin, while expressing support for a ceasefire, acknowledged there are “nuances” that need to be addressed, adding that he had “serious questions” about how the proposal would be implemented.

In response, US President Donald Trump referred to Putin’s comments as “promising” but also noted that the statement was “not complete”, suggesting that further discussions were necessary.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has agreed to the ceasefire proposal during talks held in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, following mounting pressure after a meeting between Trump and Zelensky in February.

The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has caused immense devastation, with hundreds of thousands dead or injured and millions displaced. The conflict has led to severe economic and geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West, with the ceasefire discussions now offering a glimmer of hope for a resolution.

IANS

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasised that it should pave the way to lasting peace.

“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin told a news conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”

He noted the need to develop a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce. Another issue, he said, is whether Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to continue mobilization and rearmament.

“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said.

Putin noted that while it appeared that the US persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire, Ukraine is interested in that because of the battlefield situation, noting that Ukrainian troops that launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region would be fully blocked in the coming days.

“In these conditions, I believe it would be good for the Ukrainian side to secure a ceasefire for at least 30 days,” he said.

Referring to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, he said: “Will all those who are there come out without a fight?”

Putin thanked US President Donald Trump “for paying so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine.”

He also thanked the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa for their “noble mission to end the fighting to casualties,” a statement that signalled those countries’ potential involvement in a ceasefire deal.

Russia has said it will not accept peacekeepers from any NATO members to monitor a prospective truce.

AP

Paris: Defence Ministers from Europe’s top five military powers, France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Poland, met in Paris and voiced support for the Ukrainian army.

In a joint declaration published after the meeting, the ministers agreed to strengthen European support for peace in Ukraine, including accelerating defence industrial cooperation projects with Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference, French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters that the defence capacity of the Ukrainian army would be “one of the first security guarantees” for Kyiv.

According to Lecornu, “the true guarantee of long-term security will be the capacities that we can provide to the Ukrainian army.”

Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said that there would be no future for Ukraine “without the ability to defend itself.”

The ministers also agreed to consolidate their common approach to European defense within the frameworks of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

They said in the joint declaration that they would maintain a “strong” transatlantic bond while significantly increasing Europe’s contribution to the continent’s deterrence and defence.

When asked if the ministers discussed how to develop an independent European defence system in case of the US withdrawal, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said that it was a topic that has already “preoccupied” Europe for a while.

He proposed that Europe should work on administrative simplifications both at national and European levels to standardise weapon systems in different European countries. For him, European countries need to work together on European security.

Ukraine agreed Tuesday to a US proposal for an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire” following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement.

The talks, notably held without European participation, resulted in the statement that Ukraine would receive renewed US security assistance and America got preliminary approval for access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.

Despite being left out of negotiations, European leaders welcomed the progress made between the US and Ukraine while continuing efforts to strengthen the continent’s defense capabilities.

Jeddah: Ukraine signaled its readiness to accept a US proposal for an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire” following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement.

The statement, issued after hours of consultations between senior officials from the two countries, said the truce could be extended by mutual agreement, adding that “the United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.”

Washington has agreed to “immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,” the statement said, adding that both sides discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts, particularly during the ceasefire period, Xinhua news agency reported.

Negotiators also agreed to appoint teams to begin talks aimed at reaching a lasting peace. The US reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with Russian representatives, while Ukraine emphasised the need for European partners to be involved in the process, the statement said.

Additionally, both nations’ leaders agreed to finalise “as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy,” it added.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The Ukrainian delegation included President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and others. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and National Security Advisor Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban also took part in the discussions.

At a press conference following the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope that Russia would accept the proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine.

He said Ukraine’s commitment will “be delivered to them directly through multiple channels,” “through our diplomatic channels, through conversations, and other methods.”

“The ball is in their court,” said Rubio, noting that if Kremlin rejects the proposal, “then we’ll, unfortunately, know what the impediment is to peace here.”

Zelensky described the meeting as “good and constructive” on social media platform X. “If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately,” Zelensky said.

US President Donald Trump said he expects to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week and hopes Russia also agrees to the terms.

When asked how close he thinks Ukraine and Russia are to a total ceasefire, Trump said, “I hope it’ll be over the next few days.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian state news agencies, “We do not rule out contacts with US representatives within the next few days.”

According to Russian media reports, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for Putin, said Moscow expected Washington to inform about the talks with Ukraine, stressing that there should not be premature celebration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that the European Union welcomes the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, including the proposal for a ceasefire and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on European and NATO military chiefs to draw up a plan “to define credible security guarantees” for Ukraine as peace negotiations accelerated.

IANS

Washington: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Trump administration could resume aid and intelligence support to Ukraine if the war-torn country’s leaders commit to a peace process at a crucial meeting of senior officials of the two countries in Saudi Arabia Tuesday.

Rubio told reporters after landing Monday in Jeddah for the talks that the aid was suspended “because we felt the Ukrainians were not committed” to ending the three-year-war triggered by the Russian invasion in 2022, The Washington Post reported. If that changes, so could the US policy.

“My hope is we’ll have a really good meeting tomorrow and be in a different place,” he added.

The Trump administration suspended all US aid and support, including intelligence, to Ukraine after a White House spat between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on the one side and President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance on the other.

Harsh words were exchanged and Trump and Vance were especially frank about the criticality of US support for Ukraine and reminded Zelensky again and again of it and demanded respect and gratitude.

Former President Joe Biden had a similar complaint about Zelensky and told him so in a harsh phone conversation in 2022, months after the invasion and the US support that followed. Zelensky had expressed public gratitude for the US support just hours after.

He took days to convey the same to the Trump administration. He offered a “it was regrettable” message on X just hours before Trump was to give his first speech of his second term to a joint meeting of Congress.

“None of us wants an endless war,” Zelensky wrote. “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

IANS

Moscow: Russia said Monday it was expelling two British diplomats based at the embassy in Moscow over spying allegations.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said in a statement quoted by the state news agency RIA Novosti that the two diplomats had provided false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country and had engaged in alleged intelligence and subversive activities that threatened Russia’s security. It didn’t offer any evidence.

According to the RIA Novosti report, a decision has been made to revoke the diplomats’ accreditations, and they have been ordered to leave Russia within two weeks. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that it summoned a British embassy official.

“Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory,” it said.

There was no immediate response from the UK authorities.

The FSB last year accused seven British diplomats of spying. Six expulsions were announced in September, and one more in November. The UK called the moves “baseless.”

The expulsions came amid soaring tensions over the war in Ukraine and after London decided to revoke the credentials of an attache at the Russian Embassy and limit Moscow’s diplomatic activities in Britain.

Last month, London expelled a Russian diplomat in response to the November expulsion.

In May 2024, the UK expelled Russia’s defence attache in London, alleging he was an undeclared intelligence officer, and it closed several Russian diplomatic properties in Britain that it said were being used for spying. Days later Russia reciprocated and expelled Britain’s defense attache.

Expulsions of diplomats — both Western envoys working in Russia and Russians in the West — have become increasingly common since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In 2023, the Russian news outlet RBC said Western countries and Japan had expelled a total of 670 Russian diplomats between the start of 2022 and October 2023, while Moscow responded by expelling 346 diplomats.

AP

Washington: US President Donald Trump Friday said he is “strongly considering” sanctions and tariffs on Russia in hopes of forcing a settlement to the war in Ukraine.

He said in a post on Truth Social that they could remain in place “until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.”

The post came as Trump faces criticism for increasing pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal while downplaying or even denying Russia’s responsibility for starting the war with its invasion three years ago.

“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” Trump added.

AP

Kyiv: Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a large-scale missile and drone bombardment during the night, officials said Friday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said talks with the US on ending the 3-year war will take place next week.

Ukraine came under a “massive missile and drone” attack, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on Facebook. At least 10 people, including a child, were injured, authorities said.

“Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by striking energy and gas production facilities, without abandoning its goal of leaving us without light and heat, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens,” Halushchenko wrote.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power grid during the war. The attacks have depleted electricity generation capacity and disrupted critical heating and water supplies. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of “weaponising winter” in an effort to erode civilian morale.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the energy supply is a legitimate target in the war because it is “linked with Ukraine’s military industrial complex and weapons production”.

Russian air defences downed 39 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

Ukraine’s largest private gas producer, DTEK, said the overnight bombardment was Russia’s sixth attack in the past two and a half weeks on its facilities.

Russia fired 67 missiles from air, land and sea and launched 194 strike and decoy drones, Ukraine’s air force said. Their primary target was Ukraine’s natural gas extraction facilities, it said.

For the first time, Ukraine deployed French Mirage-2000 warplanes delivered a month ago to help repel the attack, according to the air force. Ukraine also has Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to shoot down Russian missiles.

Ukrainian defences downed 34 missiles and 100 drones, the air force said, while up to 10 missiles didn’t reach their targets and 86 drones were lost from radars, presumably jammed by electronic warfare.

Western-supplied air defence systems are crucial for Ukraine’s fight but further US help is uncertain under US President Donald Trump, who says he is determined to end the war and has paused American military aid for Kyiv as a way of pressuring Zelenskyy to negotiate.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said Thursday he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet the country’s crown prince, and his team would stay on to hold talks with US officials.

Zelenskyy welcomed a European Union plan to bolster the continent’s defences. He expressed hope that some of the new spending could be used to strengthen Ukraine’s own defence industry.

AP

Brussels: European Union leaders have convened for an emergency summit in Brussels to address escalating security concerns after the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine.

During the summit held Thursday, European leaders have primarily focused on strengthening their defence commitments and ensuring continued support for Ukraine.

European Union leaders also committed to working together to bolster the continent’s defences and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security after US President Donald Trump’s repeated warnings that he would cut them adrift to face the threat of Russia alone.

With the growing conviction that they will now have to fend for themselves, countries that have faltered on defence spending for decades held emergency talks in Brussels to explore new ways to beef up their security and ensure future protection for Ukraine.

The gathering is the first summit of the 27 nations since an explosive meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, last week between US President Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. The Trump administration has since announced a freeze on military aid and suspended intelligence-sharing with Ukraine — decisions that could have dire consequences for Ukraine’s war efforts.

Among the attendees in Brussels were President Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and French President Emmanuel Macron, who in remarks Wednesday said Russia is no longer just threatening Ukraine but is also potentially now a serious threat to Europe.

The 27 EU leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to seek new ways “to facilitate significant defence spending” at the national level in all member states, a statement said.

The EU’s executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be freed up that way.

The leaders also took note of a commission offer of a loan package worth 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff “to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency”.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch supporter of Trump and considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe, refused to endorse part of the summit statement in favour of Ukraine.

But all 26 other EU leaders approved the bloc’s stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security. The Europeans have so far been sidelined in the US-led negotiations with Russia.

One of the primary outcomes of the summit is a renewed commitment from European leaders to boost their defence budgets.

With the war in Ukraine continuing and the EU seeking to rely less on US support, leaders discussed ways to enhance Europe’s military capabilities. The European Commission proposed measures such as fiscal flexibility and even joint borrowing to help member states increase their defence spending.

Von der Leyen warned that Ukraine — and Europe as a whole — have arrived at a “watershed moment”.

“Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore, Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself. We have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for lasting and just peace,” she said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also called for strengthening European nations’ defence capabilities.

After a meeting with Macron in France Wednesday, Orban took to X and said: “My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we must strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations.”

My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we must strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations, & these efforts should empower member states rather than Brussels bureaucrats. pic.twitter.com/FDdZTuOnb8

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 6, 2025

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, reiterated the need for Europe to enhance its defence capabilities, saying it should happen even if some member states disagree.

“We need more European defence, and if one or two countries do not want to share that view, I think that the others should go ahead as much as they can. And that is what I am advocating for,” Frieden said before the meeting in Brussels.

Zelensky has continued to receive firm backing from European leaders, who also discussed the expansion of military aid and potential security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelensky thanked European leaders for their continued support, saying it meant Ukraine was not “alone” in its fight to repel Russia’s invasion.

“It’s very important you made a strong signal to the Ukrainian people,” he said.

Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated a rejection of any “dictated peace” in Ukraine as talks between Washington and Moscow fuel fears of an unfavourable settlement being imposed on Kyiv.

“It is very important that we make sure that Ukraine does not have to accept a dictated peace but that it is a just and fair peace that guarantees (Ukraine’s) sovereignty and independence,” Scholz said.

At least 20 countries, mostly European and Commonwealth nations, have expressed interest in joining a “coalition of the willing” proposed this week by the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support Ukraine.

Starmer said the UK, France and other nations would form this coalition to draw up plans to offer Ukraine support in the event of a peace deal to end Russia’s war.

Countries that have publicly indicated they would consider sending peacekeepers to enforce a deal include Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey, which has the second largest army in NATO after the US.

A number of other countries have not ruled out sending soldiers, including Canada, Denmark and Sweden.

While details remain under discussion, the message was clear: Europe remains united in supporting Kyiv in the face of Russia.

“Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia. We are simply stronger,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

“We just had to start believing in it. And today it seems to be happening.”

During the summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said his country expects to deliver F-16 fighter jets for battle in Ukraine in 2026. He said the promised delivery of the jets had been delayed because Belgium is awaiting delivery of new F-35s to replace them.

For its part, Sweden said it will send up to eight Gripen fighter jets to take part in a NATO mission to police the airspace of Poland, which borders Ukraine.

The move comes after Sweden suspended plans to send its domestically developed Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine last year.

A particularly notable moment in the summit came from Macron, who proposed extending France’s nuclear deterrence umbrella to other EU countries.

Such a move aims to strengthen Europe’s defence position. However, it was met with mixed reactions. While some leaders welcomed the idea, others expressed concerns about nuclear policy complexities within the EU.

Poland and the Baltic nations welcomed Macron’s proposal.

Scholz expressed reservations, emphasising NATO’s existing deterrence system and advocating for increased defence spending across Europe instead.

Asked to comment on France’s offer, Scholz said: “What we have in terms of nuclear involvement, … I don’t think that should be given up.”

Despite the strong support for ramping up defence capabilities, divisions remained over how to fund Europe’s increased defence efforts. Some countries, including Hungary, have voiced scepticism about joint financing plans and proposed defence commitments.

Russia, meanwhile, said it would not accept the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, claiming that would signal direct NATO involvement in the war.

The Kremlin also strongly decried as “extremely confrontational” Macron’s warning Wednesday about what he called Russia’s “threat to Europe” and the need for unity.

His speech indicated that France is thinking about “continuing the war”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

In remarks Wednesday to women who lost relatives in the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country should choose a peace in Ukraine that will ensure the long-term security of Russia and its sustainable development.

“We must choose for ourselves a peace option that will suit us and that will ensure peace for our country in the long term,” Putin said.

“We don’t need anything else, but we won’t give up our own,” he added.

While the summit underscored Europe’s determination to support Ukraine and boost its defence capabilities, it also revealed ongoing debates over funding and strategic direction.

The coming months will be vital as EU leaders work to move these discussions into concrete actions, ensuring Europe can sustain its role in supporting Ukraine while reinforcing its own security, experts said.

Warsaw: South Korea and Poland signed a cooperation agreement Wednesday as the democratic allies increasingly find themselves united by concerns about the global security situation despite the vast geographical distance between them.

Foreign ministers Cho Tae-yul of South Korea and Poland’s Radek Sikorski signed an action plan which outlines their relations in the areas of politics, economy, defence and culture through 2028.

“We both reaffirmed that there is a need to further strengthen our cooperation for transregional security cooperation, encompassing both Europe and the Indo-Pacific within the framework of the NATO-IP4 partnership, said Cho, referring to NATO’s partnership with allies in the Indo-Pacific region, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

South Korea and Poland have been strategic partners since 2013, with South Korea in recent years becoming a major supplier of weapons as NATO member Poland carries out a massive investment programme to modernise its armed forces.

“Poland is the largest recipient of Korean military equipment worldwide, and we would like to further develop this cooperation with the prospect of relocating production and technology transfer to Poland,” Sikorski told reporters.

“Poland can also serve as a hub for further promotion of Korean military equipment in Europe and for the rebuilding of Ukraine.”

The two nations share concerns about the situation in Ukraine, which lies on Poland’s eastern border and has sent jitters across NATO’s eastern flank.

Aid package to Ukraine

South Korea and Poland, along with other European allies, have also been concerned about North Korea’s support for Russia in the war, including its dispatch of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside the Russians. Seoul worries that Russia could reward North Korea with transfers of sensitive technology to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes.

Cho told a news briefing that his country is launching an assistance package of over USD 2 billion, building on USD 400 million provided to Ukraine last year, to address Ukraine’s urgent needs in energy, infrastructure, healthcare and education.”

Sikorski and Cho also discussed expanding access to Polish food products in the South Korean market.

“Poland is now Korea’s fifth-largest trading partner within the EU (European Union), and Korea has become the largest Asian investor in Poland as of 2024. This is a testament to the trust and potential both nations see in each other’s economic future, Cho said.

AP

Kyiv: Ukraine has enough reserves to withstand the conflict with Russia for about six months without US support, the RBC-Ukraine online media outlet reported Tuesday, citing a senior parliament official.

“Our military-industrial complex has significantly expanded over the past three years, and it is capable of offsetting threats and risks,” said Fedir Venislavsky, a Member of the Parliament’s defence committee.

However, he acknowledged that Ukraine relies on the United States for certain weapons, including air defence systems and long-range multiple-launch rocket systems.

Venislavsky said that efforts are underway to secure alternative sources of supply for critically important weapons, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to multiple media reports, the US administration suspended delivery of military aid to Ukraine earlier in the day, days after the Oval Office saw a heated exchange between the Ukrainian and US presidents at the White House.

Between February 2022 and January 2025, Washington provided 65.9 billion US dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, according to the US Department of State.

Meanwhile, emphasising on the “momentous and dangerous” times and the ‘grave nature of the threats” faced, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Tuesday announced a plan to boost Europe’s defence spending throughout the European Union.

Addressing reporters in Brussels, Von der Leyen said that she has written a letter to leaders ahead of Thursday’s European Council, outlined the ‘ReArm Europe Plan’ which features a set of proposals on how to use all of the financial levers at disposal in order to help EU Member States to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defence capabilities.

“In the various meetings in the last few weeks – most recently two days ago in London – the answer from European capitals has been as resounding as it is clear. We are in an era of rearmament. And Europe is ready to massively boost its defence spending. Both to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for our European security,” said the European Commission President while suggesting a proposal to provide EUR 150 billion of loans to the Member States for defence investment.

ReArm Europe, she said, could mobilise close to EUR 800 billion for a safe and resilient Europe even while continuing to work closely with partners in NATO.

The first part of this ReArm Europe plan, European Commission President detailed, is to unleash the use of public funding in defence at national level.

IANS

Brussels: Emphasising the “momentous and dangerous” times and the ‘grave nature of the threats” faced, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced a plan to boost Europe’s defence spending throughout the European Union.

Addressing reporters in Brussels, Von der Leyen said that she has written a letter to leaders ahead of Thursday’s European Council, outlined the ‘ReArm Europe Plan’ which features a set of proposals on how to use all of the financial levers at disposal in order to help EU Member States to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defence capabilities.

“In the various meetings in the last few weeks – most recently two days ago in London – the answer from European capitals has been as resounding as it is clear. We are in an era of rearmament. And Europe is ready to massively boost its defence spending. Both to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for our own European security,” said the European Commission President while suggesting a proposal to provide EUR 150 billion of loans to the Member States for defence investment.

ReArm Europe, she said, could mobilise close to EUR 800 billion for a safe and resilient Europe even while continuing to work closely with partners in NATO.

The first part of this ReArm Europe plan, European Commission President detailed, is to unleash the use of public funding in defence at national level.

“Member States are ready to invest more in their security if they have the fiscal space. And we must enable them to do so. This is why we will shortly propose activating the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact. It will allow Member States to increase significantly their defence expenditures without triggering the Excessive Deficit Procedure.

“The second proposal will be a new instrument. It will provide EUR 150 billion of loans to Member States for defence investment. This is basically about spending better – and spending together. We are talking about pan-European capability domains. For example, air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition drones and anti-drone systems, but also to address other needs from cyber to military mobility, for example. It will help Member States to pool demand and to buy together,” she mentioned.

European leaders have also been considering sending troops to Ukraine in a “coalition of the willing” as part of a proposal to help and enforce a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has earlier stated that it would oppose the presence of European troops on the ground.

It came under consideration after the rift between the United States and Ukraine escalated following last week’s confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Trump in Washington.

Trump has now halted all aid to Ukraine till as much time as it takes to determine Zelensky’s commitment to ending the war with Russia, according to multiple US media reports.

IANS

New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended, with immediate effect, the delivery of all American military aid to Ukraine, just days after an unprecedented showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

A report in The New York Times quoted a senior administration official as saying that Trump temporarily suspended the delivery of all US military aid to Ukraine and that the order takes effect immediately, affecting “more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order”.

The report said Trump’s decision to halt military aid “resulted from a series of meetings” at the White House between the US leader and his senior national security aides.

The official said “the order would be in effect until” Trump determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.

The order also pauses “hundreds of millions of dollars in aid through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides funds that Kyiv can use only to buy new military hardware directly from US defence companies.”

According to the US State Department, Washington has till date provided $65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine February 24, 2022, and approximately USD 69.2 billion in military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

This latest setback for Ukraine in the third year of its war with Russia comes just days after Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a heated verbal exchange with Zelensky, who was visiting the White House last Friday and the two countries were all set to sign a rare mineral deal.

But talks between Trump and Zelensky unravelled in a heated exchange that played out in front of the global media.

Towards the end of the about 50-minute press conference, Vance told the Ukrainian leader, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. … you should be thanking the president for trying to bring you into this conference.”

As the conversation grew heated, Trump told Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War Three. You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”

Trump and Vance also criticised Zelensky for not being grateful enough for the support that the US had given so far to Ukraine in its war with Russia. As leaders from Europe and around the world took to social media website X to rally behind Zelenskyy and underscore their support for Kyiv, the Ukrainian leader responded to everyone with the same message – “Thank you for your support.”

PTI

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will allow Ukraine to use 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) of British export finance to purchase more than 5,000 air defence missiles.

“This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening Ukraine,” Starmer told a press conference Sunday following a summit with Western leaders in London, Xinhua news agency reported.

The goal is “to put Ukraine in the strongest position” so the country can negotiate from a position of strength, he added.

Western leaders, including more than a dozen European heads of state and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, gathered in London Sunday for a defense summit aimed at advancing a peace plan for Ukraine.

Starmer said leaders at the summit had agreed on a four-step plan to guarantee peace in Ukraine: to maintain military aid to Ukraine while the conflict continues and increase economic pressure on Russia; to ensure that any lasting peace guarantees Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, with Ukraine at the table for any negotiations; to deter “any future invasion by Russia” in the event of a peace deal; and to establish a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine and uphold peace in the country.

The leaders also agreed to meet again soon to sustain the momentum behind these efforts, Starmer said.

The prime minister reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting the peace plan with “boots on the ground, and planes in the air.”

“Europe must do the heavy lifting,” he said, emphasising that the agreement needs US backing.

“Let me be clear, we agree with Trump on the urgent need for a durable peace. Now we need to deliver together,” he said.

Earlier Sunday before the summit, Starmer announced that Britain, France and Ukraine will work on a ceasefire plan to present to the US. He named three essential points to achieve “lasting peace” — a strong Ukraine, a European element with security guarantees, and a US backstop, with the last one being the subject of “intense” discussion.

The summit took place amid diplomatic tensions, following a heated exchange earlier this week between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House, which led to the cancellation of an anticipated raw materials agreement between the two countries.

Saturday, Zelensky met with Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where the British prime minister reaffirmed the UK’s “unwavering determination” to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Following the meeting, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko announced that Britain and Ukraine had agreed on a loan of 2.26 billion pounds to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities. (1 pound = $1.26)

IANS

London: Britain, France and Ukraine have agreed to work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday before a summit with European leaders to discuss ending the war.

The meeting has been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding by U.S. President Donald Trump of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House Friday for being ungrateful for U.S. support against the invasion by Russia.

But Starmer said he’s focused on being a bridge to restore peace talks, whose collapse he used as an opportunity to re-engage with Trump, Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron rather than “ramp up the rhetoric.”

“We’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” Starmer told the BBC. Starmer and Macron have both spoken to Trump since Friday.

Sunday’s meeting is an important step

The London meeting has taken on greater importance in defending the war-torn ally and shoring up the continent’s defenses.

Sunday’s summit is likely to include talks on establishing a European military force to be sent to Ukraine to underpin a ceasefire. Starmer said it would involve “a coalition of the willing.”

Starmer said he does not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin but does trust Trump. “Do I believe Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that is yes,” he said.

Starmer said there are “intense discussions” to get a security guarantee from the U.S.

“If there is to be a deal, if there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin comes again,” Starmer said. “That has happened in the past, I think it is a real risk, and that is why we must ensure that if there’s a deal, it is a lasting deal, not a temporary pause.”

The three essentials listed by Starmer for a successful peace deal were: arm the Ukrainians to put them in a position of strength; a European element to guarantee security; and a “U.S. backstop,” to prevent Putin from breaking promises.

“That’s the package. All three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together,” Starmer said.

Leaders began arriving early Sunday afternoon for the meeting at Lancaster House, a 200-year-old mansion near Buckingham Palace, following a charm offensive last week to persuade Trump to put Ukraine at the center of negotiations and tilt his allegiances toward Europe.

Leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania will be at the summit. The Turkish foreign minister, NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council will also attend.

European leaders are backing Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy received broad support from leaders across Europe after the White House fiasco, an exceptional attack on an ally broadcast on live television.

Starmer embraced Zelenskyy when he arrived Saturday for a private meeting in Downing Street.

“As you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom,” Starmer said. “We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take.”

Europe has been anxious since Trump initiated direct peace talks with Putin, who had been isolated by most Western leaders since invading Ukraine three years ago. The scramble to remain relevant and protect European interests as their once stalwart ally appeared to be cozying up to Putin was even more troubling when Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and falsely said Ukraine started the war.

Meetings in recent days had provided some hope — until Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House.

Visits to the Oval Office by Macron, who had declared his visit a “turning point,” and Starmer were seen as steps in the right direction. The meetings were cordial and Trump even took a gentler tone toward Ukraine, though he would not commit to providing U.S. security guarantees and maintained Europe would need to provide peacekeeping troops.

Within 12 hours of Starmer’s return from Washington, the talk of peace seemed to collapse as Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy for challenging Trump’s assertions that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be trusted.

“Starmer did an impressive job of asserting Europe’s agency in the war on Ukraine and conveying to President Trump that Europe is willing and able to take a leading role in implementing any credible peace deal,” said Rachel Ellehuus, director-general of Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank. “Unfortunately, Friday’s White House meeting was a major step backward.”

Ukraine can no longer count on military or political support from the U.S. after Trump declared himself neutral in negotiations, Ellehuus said. She said Europe needs to step in and could release some 200 billion euros ($207 billion) in seized Russian assets to help fund that effort.

“The immediate goal of the meetings in London must be to keep Ukraine in the fight so it can negotiate from a maximum position of strength,” she said.

European leaders pledge to increase military spending

Starmer pledged this week to boost military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027. Other European nations may follow suit.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Saturday that Europe faces a historic test and has to look after itself. He said European countries have to increase their arms spending to reach at least 3% of GDP.

“If we don’t increase our effort fast enough and let the aggressor dictate its conditions, we won’t end up well,” he said.

Macron, who said it was legitimate for the U.S. to shift its focus to dealing with China and Asia, also called for more defense spending as he called for unity.

“We should have woken up earlier,” Macron said. “I’ve been saying for years that we need a more sovereign, more united, more independent Europe.”

AP

Washington: After news of the White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky devolved into shouting Friday there were swift and widespread messages of solidarity and support for Ukraine from leaders across Europe.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas also joined in the support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor,” she wrote in a post on X.

Kallas also stressed that “the free world needs a new leader” and that it’s up to Europe “to take this challenge”.

WATCH IN FULL: All 46 minutes of the Oval Office meeting between President Donald J. Trump and President Zelenskyy pic.twitter.com/L88QejnhRA

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025

Germany’s Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz also backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his Oval Office blow-up with US President Donald Trump, saying: “We stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times.”

“We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war,” Merz posted on X.

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz also chimed in, stressing that “Ukraine can rely on Germany and on Europe” after Volodymyr Zelensky’s spat with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

“Nobody wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine. That’s why we’re searching together for a path of lasting and just peace,” Scholz said on X.

European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen has joined European leaders in solidarity with Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky prematurely left Washington, D.C., following a shouting match with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance.

“Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people,” Von der Leyen said, urging Ukrainians to “be strong, be brave, be fearless”.

“You are never alone, dear President Zelensky. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”

The statement was posted on X in English and then in Ukrainian.

Ukrainian top officials, including the Prime Minister and Speaker of the country’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, have expressed their support for President Volodymyr Zelensky after he clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance at the White House.

“President Zelensky is right. Peace without guarantees is not possible,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Ukrainian Parliament Speaker, wrote: “Full support for the President of Ukraine! Full support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people! NO ONE has the right to forget that in this war Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim of aggression.”

After the clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Germany’s outgoing Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that “Ukraine is not alone”.

“Germany, together with our European allies, stands united alongside Ukraine — and against the Russian aggression. Ukraine can build on unwavering support from Germany, Europe and beyond. Their defence of democracy &amp; their quest for peace &amp; security is ours,” she wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked America after leaving the White House early following failed talks with US President Trump.

“Thank you, America; thank you for your support; thank you for this visit. Thank you, US President, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” he wrote on X.

During their heated exchange in the Oval Office, Zelensky was repeatedly accused by Trump and Vice-President Vance of being ungrateful.

French President Emmanuel Macron, commenting on a shouting match between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, said that Russia is the aggressor and Ukrainians are the aggressed people.

“We must… respect those who have been fighting since the beginning,” Macron told reporters in Portugal.

The French President later wrote on X: “There is one attacker: Russia. There is one people under attack: Ukraine.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also supported the Ukrainian leader. “Dear President Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Tusk wrote on X after the Trump- Zelensky row.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you” on X in three languages: Spanish, English and Ukrainian.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left the White House early after a heated exchange with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and Vice-President Vance in the Oval Office.

According to a White House official, the leaders didn’t sign the critical minerals agreement, and their joint press conference was also cancelled.

After the heated exchange in the Oval Office, US President Trump broke off talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, who reportedly left the White House early.

“I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump wrote in the post on his Truth Social platform.

The US president said that Zelensky “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office”.

“He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump concluded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart, President Donald Trump, openly clashed during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.

“You’re not acting at all thankful. It’s not a nice thing,” the US President said, reportedly when Zelensky pushed for security guarantees.

“It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” he added.

“You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” Trump told Zelensky.

Trump and Vice-President Vance also called Zelensky “disrespectful,” as the Ukrainian leader asked for a US security commitment.

“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump said.

The Ukrainian President shook his head and crossed his arms as Trump and Vance accused him of being ungrateful for US aid.

“Ukraine is not to blame for this war brought about by Russia’s illegal invasion,” Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris said. “We stand with Ukraine.”

Similar messages came in from leaders in Sweden, Norway, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania.

Swedish Prime Minister’s Office: “Sweden stands with Ukraine. You are not only fighting for your freedom but also for all of Europe’s. Slava Ukraini!”

Estonia Foreign Affairs Minister Margus Tsahkna: “The only obstacle to peace is Putin’s decision to continue his war of aggression. If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine. Estonia’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step up.”

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp: “Just spoke to my dear Ukrainian friend and colleague Andrii Sybiha. I reiterated my full support for Ukraine: whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”

IANS

United Nations: In a sign of its relations with Western allies fraying, the US managed to get its resolution on Ukraine that did not name Russia as the aggressor adopted intact after failing in the General Assembly.

The resolution got through as drafted by the US only because three West European amendments failed, and the veto-wielding France and Britain abstained on the resolution Monday, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Stripped of the blame for Russia for the Ukraine War, this was the first resolution to be adopted by the Security Council on the conflict.

The short resolution mourns the deaths in the “Russia-Ukraine” conflict, “implores” an early end to the conflict, and urges lasting peace between the two countries.

Even though it lacks specificity, the Council resolution, technically, is binding on members, unlike Assembly resolutions.

US Charge d’Affaires Dorothy Shea said, “Today, we stand on the precipice of history with a solemn task — creating conditions to end the bloodiest war on the European continent since the successive cataclysms that spurred the creation of this Council.”

“This resolution puts us on the path to peace,” she said.

As US President Donald Trump pursues his diplomacy with Russia to end the war, he is against criticism of Russia so that assigning blame does not derail his peace efforts.

Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia welcomed the new approach of the US and said its resolution “gives us a certain optimism.”

“The militarising Europe today is the only player internationally which wants the war to continue,” he asserted.

However, the European allies of the US want to name Moscow as the aggressor.

“If we are to find a path to sustainable peace, the Council must be clear on the war’s origins,” Britain’s Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward said.

Earlier, a similar resolution moved by the US was amended to name Russia as the invader, to the chagrin of Washington, which abstained on its resolution.

It also joined Russia in voting against an Assembly resolution proposed by Ukraine, which, however, got enough votes for adoption.

France proposed postponing the votes on the resolution at the Security Council to give more time for diplomacy but failed to get enough votes, and the body took up the resolution.

France proposed three amendments to the Council resolution as it had at the Assembly.

This was going on while Trump and France’s President Emmanuel Macron were winding up their meeting at which Ukraine figured prominently in Washington with a news conference.

Unlike in the Assembly, France’s amendments failed to get enough votes to be adopted or were vetoed by Russia in the Council.

An amendment proposed by Russia also failed.

The resolution passed with ten votes and abstentions by five European countries.

Explaining the abstention, Woodward said that Britain could not support the resolution because it did not make clear that Ukraine’s consent was needed for a settlement and that “there can be no equivalence between Russia and Ukraine.”

“But we share the ambition to find a lasting end to this war, supported by robust security arrangements that ensure Ukraine never again has to face Russia’s attack,” she added.

IANS