France has accused Russia of “intimidation” after its air defenses locked onto a French patrol plane over the Baltic Sea.
The French maritime patrol plane was part of a NATO operation and was locked onto by the control radar of an S400 ground-to-air defence system, French defense minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X.
“This aggressive Russian action is not acceptable. Our armies will continue to act to defend freedom of navigation in international air and maritime spaces,” Mr Lecornu added.
It comes as a leading US war analyst has said North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region may all be dead or wounded by mid-April.
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If Kim Jong-un’s forces “continue to suffer from their current high loss rate” then the entire 12,000 contingent may be “killed or wounded in roughly 12 weeks”, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
The ISW estimates that North Korean troops have suffered roughly 92 casualties per day since significant fighting began in early December.
In early January, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said 3,800 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Kursk.
Key points
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French patrol aircraft victim of Russian intimidation, Paris says
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At least four killed in Russian attack on southern Ukraine, region says
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Russian forces have retaken 63.2 percent of territory captured in Kursk, Moscow claims
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Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role
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North Korea may lose all 12,000 soldiers in Russia by April – ISW
Russia hopes for stability in Middle East after ceasefire, Putin says
14:53 , Alex Croft
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Russia hopes that a ceasefire in Gaza will lead to long-term stability in the Middle East, president Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin said it was important not to weaken efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Pezeshkian expressed hope that the ceasefire would be implemented.
Navalny’s lawyers jailed as Putin’s crackdown on dissent reaches new heights
14:30 , Alex Croft
Three lawyers who represented the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been sentenced to years in a Russian penal colony, as part of Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on dissent that has reached levels unseen since Soviet times.
Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser – already in custody – have been jailed from three-and-a-half to five years after being arrested in October 2023, charged with involvement with extremist groups, which is what the Russian state designates opposition groups as.
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Before his sudden death in a penal colony last year – which Western leaders have blamed Putin for – Mr Navalny slammed the arrests of his lawyers as “outrageous”, describing it as a plan to further isolate him in jail. Despite his imprisonment, Mr Navalny was able via his lawyers to post on social media and file frequent lawsuits over his treatment in prison, using the resulting legal hearings as a chance to keep speaking out against the government and the war.
Read the full report:
Navalny’s lawyers jailed as Putin’s crackdown on dissent reaches new heights
German foreign minister criticises Scholz for blocking more Ukraine aid, report says
14:07 , Alex Croft
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock indirectly criticised chancellor Olaf Scholz for his reluctance to approve a further €3bn ($3.09bn; £2.5bn) in additional military aid for Ukraine.
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“To be honest, it hurts me a lot,” she said without mentioning the chancellor’s name in an interview with Politico released today, adding that for some politicians gaining a few votes was more important than securing Europe’s peace and freedom.
Ms Baerbock said in the interview that for her, responsible politics means not to blow with the wind, then act the other way around in election campaigns, adding that Mr Scholz’s behaviour also harmed the trust of the European allies in Germany.
Earlier this week, Scholz said he had suggested expanding the currently earmarked €12bn (£10.1bn) for this year, but the additional money must not be provided at the cost of cutting social spending.
Ms Baerbock’s Greens party and Mr Scholz’s SPD party are currently partners in the minority government after the ruling coalition collapsed in November, but both parties are also competing in the snap elections on 23 February.
Russian drone breaches Romania’s airspace
13:48 , Alex Croft
Romania’s airspace was breached during an overnight Russian drone attack on neighbouring Ukraine, its defence ministry said this morning.
The likely impact zone of a drone was found near the border in the southeastern county of Tulcea, Romanian officials said.
Nato member Romania scrambled two fighter jets to monitor the attack from the air. Drone fragments and air space breaches have occurred regularly over the past year and a half as Russia has attacked Ukraine’s Danube river port infrastructure.
Ukraine Kursk offensive: What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counterattack on Russian soil
13:30 , Alex Croft
Ukraine has launched a fresh counterattack in the Russian border region of Kursk as it looks to gain the most territory it can ahead of possible peace negotiations – with US president-elect Donald Trump saying he wants to end the war as soon as possible.
The attack started over the weekend, with unverified footage circulated by Russian military bloggers showing a column of Ukrainian tanks and armoured personnel carriers heading towards the village of Berdin, a small area outside of what Ukraine currently controls in Kursk.
Kyiv’s military has not officially acknowledged a fresh offensive, months after an initial incursion that caught Russia off guard and allowed Ukraine to capture a swathe of Russian territory in the region. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said: “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves.”
Tom Watling reports:
What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counter-attack on Russian soil
North Korean troops in Ukraine gain battlefield experience, cementing alliance with Russia
13:10 , Alex Croft
For weeks, Ukrainian troops braced for an unfamiliar enemy: North Korean soldiers sent to bolster Moscow’s forces after Ukraine launched a lightning-fast incursion and seized territory in Russia‘s Kursk region over the summer.
Their arrival marked a new and alarming phase in the war. And while initially inexperienced on the battlefield, North Korean troops have adapted quickly — a development that could have far-reaching consequences as they gain combat knowledge in the war against Ukraine.
Unlike the Russian troops Ukraine has been battling for nearly three years, Kyiv’s forces were uncertain about what to expect from this new adversary, drawn into the war after Moscow and Pyongyang signed an agreement pledging military assistance using “all means” if either were attacked.
Read the full report here:
North Korean troops in Ukraine gain battlefield experience, cementing alliance with Russia
Ukraine among world’s most dangerous countries to avoid in 2025
12:50 , Alex Croft
The world’s most dangerous countries to visit in 2025 have been revealed in a new study on security, health and climate change risks around the world.
Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Central African Republic have been named as among the most dangerous countries to visit from an extreme security risk perspective, according to a risk map compiled by security and health risk services company, International SOS.
Also on the list were Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine.
Amelia Neath reports:
World’s most dangerous countries to avoid in 2025
In pictures: Iranian president in Moscow ahead of treaty signing with Putin
12:32 , Alex Croft
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is in Moscow, where he will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss a new security agreement with Russia.
It is the first time Pezeshkian has visited Moscow after assuming the presidency, following his predecessor’s death in a helicopter crash last year.
Don’t expect Trump’s US to stop supporting Ukraine, says Germany’s Scholz
12:13 , Alex Croft
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned Russia not to expect the US to stop supporting Ukraine’s defence after president-elect Donald Trump takes power.
Mr Scholz has spoken twice with Mr Trump since the election, he said, adding that there is an “intensive” diplomatic dialogue between Germany and the incoming administration.
“We can therefore hope that good cooperation between Europe and the USA will continue to be successful in the future, including on the issue of support for Ukraine,” Mr Scholz added.
“So I don’t expect the U.S. to stop supporting Ukraine in its defence.”
Death toll increases to four in Russian attack
11:54 , Alex Croft
At least four people have been killed in a Russian strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih in southern-central Ukraine, the regional governor said.
Three people are in a serious condition in hospital with at least two others injured in the attack, Serhiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said on Telegram.
Two five-storey buildings were damaged, including a residential building and an educational facility, and one caught fire, Mr Lysak added.
Witnesses described on social media hearing several explosions in the city after Ukraine’s air force warned of a ballistic missile threat from Russian-occupied Crimea.
Russia has not commented on reports of the attack on Kryvyi Rih, which is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.
At least 12 Indians killed fighting with Russian army
11:39 , Alex Croft
At least 12 Indians have been killed while serving in Russia’s armed forces, India’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
Another 18 are still serving in the army – but Russia has categorised 16 of them as “missing”.
Last year, India said it had uncovered a major human trafficking network which was luring young men to Russia with the promise of jobs – before forcing them into fighting Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Three killed in missile attack on southern Ukraine, region says
11:22 , Alex Croft
At least three people have been killed in a Russian missile attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, the regional governor said.
The attack damaged a residential building and an educational facility, he added on the Telegram messaging app.
ICYMI: UK will ‘never let up’ on support for Ukraine – Starmer
11:02 , Alex Croft
Ukraine must be put in the “strongest possible position” in 2025, Sir Keir Starmer said as he made his first trip to Kyiv as Prime Minister.
The visit comes just days before Donald Trump enters the White House, potentially signalling a shift in US support for Ukraine’s war effort in favour of a push for a peace deal.
In a sign of the dangers facing Ukrainians on a daily basis, reports from Kyiv indicated a Russian drone flying over the city shortly after Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelensky laid flowers at a site of remembrance for those killed since the 2022 invasion.
The Kyiv Independent reported explosions were heard during an air raid alert.
Read the full report:
Starmer: UK will ‘never let up’ on support for Ukraine
French patrol aircraft victim of Russian intimidation, France’s defence minister says
10:44 , Alex Croft
A French patrol aircraft was the victim of Russian intimidation in the Baltic Sea, French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Friday.
The plane was locked onto by the radar of an S400 ground-to-air defence system, Mr Lecornu explained.
“This aggressive Russian action is unacceptable,” he added in a post on X.
Once ‘elite’ Russian units becoming ‘obsolete’ due to Putin’s strategy in Ukraine, war analysts say
10:25 , Alex Croft
Russian units fighting in Ukraine which were previously considered “elite” are now becoming “increasingly obsolete” as a result of Russia’s strategy of throwing waves of troops into battle that has turned the frontline into a “meat grinder”, a leading war monitor has said.
Army formations which once carried out specialised tactical tasks in their assault on Ukrainians are now “understrength”, and reliant on infantry-led assaults which fail to deploy any “unique tactics”, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Once considered “elite”, the units are “now essentially functioning as understrength motorised rifle units, relying on infantry-led frontal assaults to make tactical gains as opposed to employing any sort of doctrinally unique tactics,” the US-based think tank said in an update on Thursday.
The use of North Korean troops in the “highly attritional” infantry-led assaults is also creating difficulties in integrating Kim Jong-un’s troops into the Russian army.
As North Korean losses mount, read our report on Russian war tactics from November:
Once ‘elite’ Russian units becoming ‘obsolete’ due to Putin’s war strategy in Ukraine
Iranian president touches down for meeting with Putin
10:05 , Alex Croft
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has touched down in Moscow to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Russian state news has reported.
The pair will sign a strategic partnership between the countries in the first visit by the new Iranian president, after his predecessor died in a helicopter crash last year.
Pezeshkian and Putin will discuss bilateral ties and international issues before signing the treaty, the TASS news agency reported.
The 20-year Russia-Iran agreement will include provisions for closer defence cooperation. Russia has made significant use of Iranian drones during its war on Ukraine, and the US accused Tehran of delivering close-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
Tehran has denied supplying drones or missiles to Russia, while Moscow has declined to confirm whether it has received them.
Russian forces have retaken 63.2 percent of territory captured in Kursk, defence ministry claims
09:46 , Alex Croft
Russian forces have retaken 63.2 per cent of the territory captured by Ukraine in its western Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry claimed on Friday.
Moscow claims to have recaptured four settlements in the first two weeks of January, although the reports have not been independently verified.
Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion on August 6 last year, seizing territory which offers Kyiv a potential bargaining chip on any future talks on ending the war.
Russia does not expect US to soften sanctions when Trump takes White House
09:25 , Alex Croft
Russia does not expect the US to soften sanctions on Russian oil when president-elect Donald Trump takes office, the Kremlin has said.
It comes after Mr Trump’s choice for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said he “100 per cent” supports raising sanctions on Russian oil producers if the incoming president asked him to.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia does not expect the US to fundamentally change its stance.
All North Korean troops could be dead or wounded by April – war analyst
09:08 , Alex Croft
The entire group of North Koreans fighting in Rusia’s Kursk region could be killed or wounded by mid-April, a leading war analyst has said.
If Kim Jong-un’s forces “continue to suffer from their current high loss rate” then their entire 12,000 contingent may be out of action, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said.
In early January, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said 3,800 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Kursk.
The IfW says North Korean troops likely suffered around 92 casualties per day since significant fighting began in December.
“North Korean forces will likely continue to suffer a larger ratio of wounded to killed in action – as is typical for armed conflict – and it is unclear if or when injured North Korean soldiers return to combat,” the ISW said.
Kremlin to study British-Ukrainian 100-year agreement
11:06 , Alex Croft
The Kremlin has said it will study Ukraine’s new 100-year agreement with the United Kingdom, describing the prospect of British military bases in Ukraine as “worrying”.
British prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signed the accord on Thursday, which promises to strengthen the two countries’ security cooperation.
Sir Keir is also considering sending British troops to Ukraine in a peacekeeper role – although this does not appear to have been part of the 100-year deal.
The Kremlin views negatively the prospect of British cooperation with Ukraine in the Sea of Azov – which spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described as Russia’s “internal sea”.
33 Russian drones downed overnight, Ukraine says
11:06 , Alex Croft
Ukraine’s air defences downed 33 out of 50 Russian drones launched overnight, the air force said on Friday.
Nine drones were “lost”, it said, referring to Ukraine’s use of electronic warfare to redirect Russian drones. Another left Ukraine in the direction of Romania.
The military said on Telegram: “Hostile attack drones hit enterprises in Odesa region, and buildings of institutions, private businesses and households in Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Kyiv regions were damaged as a result of the fall of downed enemy drones.”
Port infrastructure in the Danube region came under attack, they added. An official in Kyic said a child was wounded due to falling debris from downed targets during an attack.
Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role
07:04 , Arpan Rai
Sir Keir Starmer is considering plans to send British troops into Ukraine to act as peacekeepers in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
The Ukraine president said the two men had discussed a French-backed proposal for Western peacekeepers to monitor a future ceasefire, but said it’s “a bit too early to talk about details”.
Sir Keir did not commit to peacekeepers but, directing his words at Mr Zelensky, he said that “we will work with you and all of our allies on steps that would be robust enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security” and deter future aggression.
Read more here:
Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role as he arrives in Kyiv
Russian drone breaches Romania’s airspace
06:40 , Arpan Rai
Romania’s airspace was breached during an overnight Russian drone attack on neighbouring Ukraine, its defence ministry said this morning.
The likely impact zone of a drone was found near the border in the southeastern county of Tulcea, Romanian officials said.
Nato member Romania scrambled two fighter jets to monitor the attack from the air. Drone fragments and air space breaches have occurred regularly over the past year and a half as Russia has attacked Ukraine’s Danube river port infrastructure.
Photos: Keir Starmer strolls in Kyiv streets as he makes first Ukraine visit as PM
06:10 , Arpan Rai
North Korea’s suicide soldiers pose a new risk on the battlefield
06:00 , Tom Watling
North Korea’s suicide soldiers pose a new risk on the Ukraine battlefield
A close look at Britain and Ukraine’s partnership deal
05:59 , Arpan Rai
Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Britain has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, with prime minister Keir Starmer’s predecessors visiting Kyiv in the early days of their tenure.
As the war against Russia approaches its three-year mark, Ukraine is on the backfoot on the frontlines. Ukrainian forces are suffering from manpower shortages and losing ground in the eastern Donetsk region as Russia’s troops continue their advance.
It took a little longer for Sir Keir to make the trip, but he comes armed with a 100-year partnership with Kyiv to deepen security and cultural ties.
The treaty and political declaration aims to boost military cooperation to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov and deter Russian aggression.
The treaty will also cover areas such as energy, critical minerals and green steel production, the prime minister’s office said.
“Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure,” Sir Keir said in a statement. “Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.”
Britain has provided £12.8bn in support to Ukraine since in 2022, a sum dwarfed by Washington’s $63.5bn in security assistance, underscoring the importance of Donald Trump’s actions over Ukraine.
The partnership announced yesterday, which provides £40m for Ukraine’s economic recovery, includes additional support around grain verification and trade with Ukraine’s thriving technology sector that has produced battle-ready equipment.
World’s most dangerous countries to avoid in 2025
05:39 , Arpan Rai
The world’s most dangerous countries to visit in 2025 have been revealed in a new study on security, health and climate change risks around the world.
Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Central African Republic have been named as among the most dangerous countries to visit from an extreme security risk perspective, according to a risk map compiled by security and health risk services company, International SOS.
Also on the list were Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine.
Countries that have a “high” security risk (one below an “extreme” security risk) include: Mali, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Venezuela, Haiti and Honduras.
World’s most dangerous countries to avoid in 2025
Trump’s Treasury pick calls for stronger sanctions on Russia: ‘Not fulsome enough’
05:36 , Arpan Rai
Scott Bessent, president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said he “100 per cent” supports raising sanctions on Russian oil producers if the future president requests doing so.
Mr Bessent told US senators on the Senate Finance Committee that he believes the Russian sanctions from the Biden administration “were not fulsome enough.”
“I think if any officials in the Russian Federation are watching this confirmation hearing, they should know that if I’m confirmed, and if President Trump requests as part of his strategy to end the Ukraine war, that I will be 100 per cent on board with taking sanctions up – especially on the Russian oil majors – to levels that would bring the Russian Federation to the table,” Mr Bessent said.
He also said “the tragedy going on in Ukraine is one of the greatest tragedies of my adult life, and ending that as soon as possible – and any role that Treasury can play in that, if confirmed, I would like to do.”
Trump ‘would breach international law’ if he gives up Ukrainian land
05:10 , Arpan Rai
The incoming US president Donald Trump could risk violating international law – as well as sending a “chilling” message to aggressors around the world – if he forces Ukraine to give up territory as part of a peace deal with Russia, human rights lawyers have warned.
What to do about Ukraine will be one of the most pressing questions facing Mr Trump when he returns to the White House on Monday, having promised to end the war in a day. His campaign advisers are already slowly backtracking from that particular promise.
On Wednesday, Russia showed the first signs of warming up to the Republican leader and convicted felon, praising his remarks about the crisis in Europe and saying Moscow is ready for talks with Mr Trump.
Trump ‘would breach international law’ if he gives up Ukrainian land
Everything we know about North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine
05:01 , Tom Watling
Ukraine war: Everything we know about North Korean soldiers captured by Kyiv
Editorial: The cost of war is so great that compromise should not be a dirty word
04:59 , Arpan Rai
Today, we stand with the Ukrainian people in their brave resistance against Vladimir Putin’s aggression, and we welcome Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Kyiv to express that solidarity in person.
But there are limits to that support: we are not prepared to commit British troops to the defence of Ukraine and, while we believe that the Ukrainians should be supplied with long-range missiles, we are wary of anything that looks as if Nato members are being drawn into direct conflict with Russian forces.
The Independent has, since its founding, been resolute in its support of human rights, self-determination and national security. It has always argued that democracies must be prepared to take military action as a last resort in defence of those principles. We supported – with reservations – the aerial campaign against Slobodan Milosevic’s forces to protect the people of Kosovo from “ethnic cleansing”. And we opposed the US-British invasion of Iraq because we thought the cost would be too high for any good that removing Saddam Hussein would do.
The cost of war is so great that compromise should not be a dirty word
German foreign minister criticises Scholz for blocking more Ukraine aid, report says
04:52 , Arpan Rai
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock indirectly criticised chancellor Olaf Scholz for his reluctance to approve a further €3bn ($3.09bn; £2.5bn) in additional military aid for Ukraine.
“To be honest, it hurts me a lot,” she said without mentioning the chancellor’s name in an interview with Politico released today, adding that for some politicians gaining a few votes was more important than securing Europe’s peace and freedom.
Ms Baerbock said in the interview that for her, responsible politics means not to blow with the wind, then act the other way around in election campaigns, adding that Mr Scholz’s behaviour also harmed the trust of the European allies in Germany.
Earlier this week, Scholz said he had suggested expanding the currently earmarked €12bn (£10.1bn) for this year, but the additional money must not be provided at the cost of cutting social spending.
Ms Baerbock’s Greens party and Mr Scholz’s SPD party are currently partners in the minority government after the ruling coalition collapsed in November, but both parties are also competing in the snap elections on 23 February.
Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role
04:17 , Arpan Rai
Sir Keir Starmer is considering plans to send British troops into Ukraine to act as peacekeepers in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
The development came during the prime minister’s first trip to Ukraine since he took power six months ago, which included a meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The trip saw the prime minister seizing the international agenda just days before Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term as US president on Monday with a plan to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role as he arrives in Kyiv
Australia calls Russian ambassador over video of captive Melbourne man
04:01 , Tom Watling
Australia summons Russian ambassador over video of captured Melbourne man
North Korea may lose all 12,000 soldiers in Russia by April – ISW
03:47 , Arpan Rai
The entire North Korean contingent of roughly 12,000 personnel currently in Kursk may be killed or wounded in action by mid-April 2025, a US-based think-tank has said, citing the high attrition in the battlefield.
North Koreans have likely suffered roughly 92 casualties per day since starting to participate in significant fighting in early December 2024, the Institute for the Study of War said.
“The entirety of this North Korean contingent in Kursk oblast may be killed or wounded in roughly 12 weeks (about mid-April 2025) should North Korean forces continue to suffer similarly high casualty rates in the future,” the ISW said in its latest war assessment.
“North Korean forces will likely continue to suffer a larger ratio of wounded to killed in action – as is typical for armed conflict – and it is unclear if or when injured North Korean soldiers return to combat,” the ISW said.
Child injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv
03:22 , Arpan Rai
A downed Russian drone in Kyiv yesterday evening has left a child injured, officials said.
The Ukrainian air defence units intercepted targets over an unnamed town in Kyiv oblast, Mykola Kalashnyk, the acting head of the regional military administration, said.
The falling wreckage from the drone injured a 12-year-old boy and caused a fire, he said.
The boy has been hospitalised and is receiving medical attention, Mr Kalashnyk said, adding that no other casualties were reported.
Starmer vows more work on security guarantees for Ukraine
03:09 , Arpan Rai
Prime minister Keir Starmer has pledged to work with Ukraine and allies to offer Kyiv robust security guarantees if a ceasefire is negotiated with Russia as he offered more support to Volodymyr Zelensky with a 100-year partnership deal.
In his first trip to Ukraine since becoming prime minister in July last year, Sir Keir was keen to underline Britain’s support for the nation just days before Donald Trump returns to power in the US.
At an earlier press conference alongside Mr Zelensky, he said Britain would look at “the practical ways to get a just and lasting peace… that guarantees your security, your independence and your right to choose your own future”, but declined to go into any details of which measures he supported.
“We will work with you and all of our allies on steps that would be robust enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security,” Sir Keir said. “Those conversations will continue for many months ahead.”
Pressed in an interview with Sky News on whether Britain would contribute troops to any peacekeeping force, the British PM said: “I’ve been discussing this with a number of allies, including, of course, (French) president Macron, including president Zelensky here today, and we will play our full part.”
Russia open for Trump talks after diplomat praises his Nato attack
03:01 , Tom Watling
Russia open for talks with Trump after Putin’s diplomat praises his attack on Nato
Russia says it will help Vietnam become a ‘partner country’ in the BRICS bloc of developing nations
02:01 , Tom Watling
Russia says it will help Vietnam become a ‘partner country’ in the BRICS bloc of developing nations
Trump ‘would breach international law’ if he gives up Ukrainian land
01:00 , Tom Watling
Trump ‘would breach international law’ if he gives up Ukrainian land
Russia plotted terror attacks on airlines, Polish PM claims
00:03 , Tom Watling
Moscow plotted terror attacks on airlines, Polish PM claims
North Korea’s suicide soldiers pose a new risk on the Ukraine battlefield
Thursday 16 January 2025 23:00 , Alexander Butler
North Korea’s suicide soldiers pose a new risk on the Ukraine battlefield
Putin’s troops launch massive drone attack
Thursday 16 January 2025 22:00 , Alexander Butler
Vladimir Putin’s troops have launched a massive overnight drone attack at Ukraine as UK prime minister Keir Starmer visited the country.
Russian forces launched 55 drones at Ukraine overnight, with Kyiv’s airforce able to down around 34 of them over 11 regions across the country.
It comes as Sir Keir slammed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a “monumental failure” during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday.
What is the 100-year partnership?
Thursday 16 January 2025 21:00 , Alexander Butler
The 100-year “historic partnership” signed by the UK and Ukraine will see the flow of more military and economic aid to Kyiv.
It will also include increased military collaboration on maritime security and drone technology, as well as healthcare, Downing Street said.
Technology partnerships in areas such as agri-tech, space and drones will also be included, according to the prime minister’s office.
“From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come,” No 10 said.
Analysis: Starmer pledges aid as ‘threat is real’
Thursday 16 January 2025 20:00 , Sam Kiley
Keir Starmer joining the rush of European leaders to Kyiv to offer support for Ukraine and, in Britain’s case a 100 years of defence cooperation is because the threat is real, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.
Donald Trump has signalled that he’s sympathetic to Vladimir Putin’s reasons for invading the sovereign nation and unsympathetic to its plans to join Nato.
Europe is, too late, waking up to the fact that soon US aid to Ukraine may be strangled off. Under Joe Biden, military aid of about $60 billion helped keep the Russian invaders at bay.
But it was restricted and only recently have the Ukrainians have been able to use what little they have been given to fight off the Russians with attacks inside their enemy’s national borders.
Starmer will sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv covering areas including defence, science, energy and trade on his visit.
Analysis: Visits send signal to Trump
Thursday 16 January 2025 19:00 , Sam Kiley
The Italian defence chief was also in Kyiv on Thursday, two days after Germany’s defence minister visited and three days after Zelenskyy talked by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron.
These visits are intended to reassure Ukraine but also signal to the US that Europe is getting serious about defending Europe, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.
Trump’s recent demand that Nato nations should spend 5 per cent off the Gross Domestic Product on defence is being seen as difficult, but not unreasonable.
There are also signs that the Europeans don’t fully trust Trump in dealing with Russia over Ukraine and fears that he might favour the Kremlin over America’s long term allies.
Britain says its 100-year pledge is part of that assurance and will help ensure that Ukraine is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia”.
This bilateral agreement is intended to offset any decline in multilateral Nato support. The UK will be committed to work with Ukraine in defence, especially in the Black Sea, and drone technology.
Watch: Zelensky and Starmer lay flowers at memorial to fallen Ukraine soldiers
Thursday 16 January 2025 18:00 , Alexander Butler
Pictured: Starmer and Zelensky give press conference
Thursday 16 January 2025 17:00 , Alexander Butler
UK should ‘only’ host Trump visit if he ‘delivers’ on Ukraine says Sir Ed Davey
Thursday 16 January 2025 16:00 , Alexander Butler
UK should ‘only’ host Trump visit if he ‘delivers’ on Ukraine says Sir Ed Davey
Sheffield-made artillery to be sent to Kyiv
Thursday 16 January 2025 15:32 , Alexander Butler
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deliver 150 artillery barrels to Ukraine as part of a “100-year partnership” with the country.
Sir Keir vowed to uphold the treaty signed with Ukraine on Thursday – a “historic” deal set to bring in more economic and military support for Kyiv in the future.
Struck by the “grim reminder” of war while visiting a burns hospital unit in Kyiv earlier today, the prime minister promised the UK would “play its full part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.
The Sheffield-made guns will be delivered to Ukraine’s military over the next few weeks as part of this deal, Sir Keir said.
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