Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky to brief UK cabinet today in first visit under Starmer

Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky to brief UK cabinet today in first visit under Starmer

Ukraine moving closer to NATO membership, Secretary General says

Volodymyr Zelensky is due to address an extraordinary meeting of the British cabinet under Prime Minister Keir Starmer today, marking his first such appearance under the new administration.

The wartime leader will brief cabinet ministers on the situation in Ukraine and the need for kyiv to expand Europe’s defense industrial base.

Ukraine is also set to sign a £3.5bn defence export finance deal with Sir Keir. Mr Zelensky is the first foreign leader to address the cabinet in person since US President Bill Clinton’s speech to the cabinet in 1997.

Ahead of Mr Zelensky’s visit, the Prime Minister said: “Ukraine is, and will always be, at the heart of this government’s agenda and it is therefore quite fitting that President Zelensky makes a historic speech to my cabinet.”

On the war front, the Ukrainian army has withdrawn from the ravaged village of Urozhaine in the eastern Donetsk region, an official said yesterday, abandoning another frontline position as Russian forces smashed Ukrainian defenses in a relentless assault.

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Zelensky to brief cabinet, first foreign leader to visit 10 Downing Street under Starmer

He is expected to brief ministers on the situation in Ukraine and the need to expand Europe’s defence industrial base, and to agree a £3.5bn defence export finance deal with Sir Keir.

The Labour leader made his first visit to Ukraine in February last year and was keen to stress Britain’s continued support for the troubled country, despite a change of government in the UK.

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 05:41

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Zelensky says he will have to work with the US

A victory for Donald Trump in the US elections in November would be difficult for Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said, acknowledging that Ukrainians were prepared.

Mr Trump’s election will be “hard work, but we are hard workers,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Mr Zelensky said: “Maybe he really doesn’t care, but we have to work with the United States,” he said while attending the European Political Community meeting in London.

The Republican leader’s choice of Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate underscores how Washington’s position on Ukraine, embroiled in a 28-month war with Russia, could change if he wins the election. Vance said in an interview: “I don’t care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.”

The Joe Biden administration has provided weapons and supplies throughout the conflict, although the flow of aid was interrupted for months by disputes within the US Congress.

Mr Trump said during the campaign that once elected, he would end the conflict before he even took office by reaching an agreement at the negotiating table. He said there would have been no conflict at all if he had been in office when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 05:31

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Zelensky discusses bilateral relations with Serbian Vucic

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed security and bilateral relations with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting in Britain.

“We appreciate the financial and humanitarian assistance provided to our country,” Zelensky said on X.

Alexander ButlerJuly 19, 2024 05:00

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Starmer invites Zelensky to attend cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting of his senior ministers today in a show of support for the Ukrainian leader who will welcome a new plan to try to disrupt Russia’s attempts to evade maritime sanctions.

A day after hosting a forum of European leaders at Blenheim Palace, the prime minister continued his bid to strengthen Britain’s role in international affairs by inviting Mr Zelensky to address his cabinet. The last foreign leader to do so was US President Bill Clinton in 1997, Starmer’s office said.

Mr Zelensky will also welcome the launch of a “call to action” against the “ghost fleet” of 600 Russian tankers used to break sanctions, officials said.

Sir Keir is expected to tell the Ukrainian leader that Britain will do more in the coming months to dent Russia’s “war machine”, including agreeing a new defence export support treaty to help kyiv secure export finance.

“Ukraine is, and always will be, at the heart of this government’s agenda and it is therefore only fitting that President Zelenskiy delivers a historic speech to my cabinet,” he said in a statement.

“Together with our European partners, we have sent a clear message to those who allow Putin (Russian President Vladimir) to evade sanctions: we will not allow the Russian ghost fleet and the dirty money it generates to circulate freely in European waters and put our security at risk.”

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 04:51

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Ukraine withdraws from another eastern village as Russian offensive intensifies

The Ukrainian military has withdrawn from the village of Urozhaine in the eastern Donetsk region, an official said yesterday, ceding another frontline position as Russian forces smashed Ukrainian defenses in a relentless assault. The village was reduced to rubble, “making it impossible to hold positions there,” said Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the local ground forces. He did not say when the withdrawal took place.

Russia prematurely claimed earlier this week that it had seized control of Urozhaine at the start of the war that began after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. Ukrainian troops recaptured it nearly a year ago.

Russia has deployed devastating firepower in its summer offensive that has reduced towns and villages to rubble, depriving Ukrainians of any defensive cover. Despite a valiant defense, Ukrainian forces are being pushed back in some places along the front line by the Kremlin’s larger and better-equipped military, analysts say.

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 04:12

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Russia says ‘let’s be realistic’ about Trump’s plan to end Ukraine war

Russia said Thursday that Donald Trump’s claim that he could quickly end the war in Ukraine should be viewed realistically, given that he promised a Middle East peace breakthrough but failed to deliver it during his presidency.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow had taken note of statements by Mr Trump, who is running against President Joe Biden in the November US election, and his newly appointed running mate, JD Vance.

“We saw the statements – Trump said he would resolve the conflict within 24 hours, and then Vance said China was a bigger problem for the United States than the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Zakharova said.

“We must distinguish between pre-election rhetoric and statements by government officials vested with the appropriate powers. If we talk about the possibility of resolving the conflict, let us be realistic.”

Alexander ButlerJuly 19, 2024 04:00

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Kim Jong-un discusses military cooperation with Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko and discussed the importance of the two countries’ militaries uniting more firmly to defend world peace and justice, the KCNA news agency reported today.

The two leaders shared the need for military cooperation between the two countries to safeguard mutual security interests, KCNA said.

Mr. Krivoruchko conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Supreme Leader of the North, who expressed his deep thanks at the meeting held on Thursday.

The report provides no further details about Mr Krivoruchko’s delegation or the purpose of his visit to North Korea.

North Korea and Russia have deepened military cooperation since their leaders held a summit in Russia’s Far East last year and signed a strategic partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense agreement reached in June during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang.

The two countries have been accused by Seoul and Washington of trading arms to fuel Russia’s missile and artillery stockpiles for its war against Ukraine. Both countries deny any arms trade.

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 03:54

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Trump, Zelensky plan to speak today – CNN

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has scheduled a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, in what would be their first conversation since the former US president left the White House in 2021, a CNN reporter on X reported, citing two unnamed sources.

The journalist did not provide details.

It would be the first exchange between the Ukrainian leader and the Republican candidate after he was shot in the ear but not seriously injured at a political rally last week.

Arpan RaiJuly 19, 2024 03:46

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Ursula von der Leyen promises ‘European air shield’ to combat Russian threat during re-election as EU leader

Alexander ButlerJuly 19, 2024 03:00

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Ursula von der Leyen re-elected for a second 5-year term as head of the European Commission

Alexander ButlerJuly 19, 2024 02:00