At Donald Trump’s insistence, Zelenskyy flew to Turkey for the first face-to-face discussions between Ukraine and Russia since early 2022, when Putin invaded.
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However, the Russian leader has snubbed Kyiv by choosing not to attend Thursday’s negotiations in Istanbul – despite personally suggesting the direct talks between the warring countries last week.
When the Kremlin confirmed Putin was simply sending a low-calibre delegation in his place, Zelenskyy told reporters it was clear Moscow was not “serious” about ending the war.
“Russia does not feel that it needs to end [the war], which means there is not enough political, economic and other pressure on the Russian Federation,” the Ukrainian president said.
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“And so we ask, if there is no ceasefire, if there are no serious decisions… we ask for appropriate sanctions.”
Zelenskyy still sent a delegation headed up by Ukraine’s defence minister for the talks in Istanbul but stayed in Ankara himself for talks with his Turkish counterpart.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin’s top diplomat was less than happy with the Ukrainian president’s attack on the Kremlin.
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Speaking on Thursday, Sergei Lavrov said: “First, Zelenskyy made some statements demanding that Putin attend in person. A nothing man. It’s clear to everyone – except perhaps to him and those pulling his strings.”
The Kremlin has been trying to discredit Zelenskyy ever since launching a full-scale invasion on Ukraine more than three years ago.
Putin’s false claim that Zelenskyy is not a legitimate president was even picked up by Trump earlier this year, as the American president claimed he is a “dictator without elections.”
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But once Moscow started to drag its heels over negotiations, Trump began to accuse Putin of not wanting to end the war.
The Ukrainian president also pointed out on Thursday that Trump has been pressuring Kyiv “more than the Russians”.
He said: “You have to pressurise the side that does not want to end the war. The position of Turkey and the United States, you saw that President Trump thought it would help to pressurise both sides – I think they pressurised us more than the Russians.
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“Ukraine is fighting for itself. We are not ready to lose our lives and land. That does not mean we are aggressors.”
Keir Starmer has been slammed for his response to an MP who accused him of not having any principles.
During prime minister’s questions, the Plaid Cymru leader Liz Saville Roberts pointed out how Starmer has U-turned over migrants’ rights over the years – only for the PM to tell her she “talks rubbish”.
“This prime minister once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and defending free movement,” Saville Roberts said, pointing to Starmer’s 2020 campaign.
“Now he talks of ‘islands of strangers’ and taking back control,” she continued.
“Somebody here has to call this out, Mr Speaker, it seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group.
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“So I ask him: is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?”
Starmer angrily hit back: “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.
“Mr Speaker, I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and communities, not as strangers.”
While chancellor Rachel Reeves laughed at his response, it seems social media was less than impressed.
Critics on X (formerly Twitter) said his comment was “rude and ungracious”, and “totally inappropriate to the position he holds”.
Starmer’s response is very revealing & shows that he’s feeling under pressure. He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj
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He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj— Alan Weston (@alanweston) May 14, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Alan Weston on Twitter / 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Starmer’s response is very revealing & shows that he’s feeling under pressure. He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj
It’s not a brutal slap down, it’s the response of a man who can’t handle the truth. It was rude, disrespectful & totally inappropriate given the position he holds. https://t.co/y03CsMeIHT
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It’s not a brutal slap down, it’s the response of a man who can’t handle the truth. It was rude, disrespectful & totally inappropriate given the position he holds. https://t.co/y03CsMeIHT
Give up everything you believe in, and realise that when you get there, it wasn’t worth fuck all.
And now people are holding that mirror up to him, all he has is petulance. https://t.co/zmRJHFe5TW
— Napoleon ‘Do Gooder Lefty’ Solo (@NapoleonSolo26) May 14, 2025
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And now people are holding that mirror up to him, all he has is petulance. https://t.co/zmRJHFe5TW— Napoleon ‘Do Gooder Lefty’ Solo (@NapoleonSolo26) May 14, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Napoleon ‘Do Gooder Lefty’ Solo on Twitter / 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when you switch to personal insults as opposed to actually answering the question, sort of makes you look a little bit weak and extremely unprofessional… https://t.co/kSacXTopOj
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when you switch to personal insults as opposed to actually answering the question, sort of makes you look a little bit weak and extremely unprofessional… https://t.co/kSacXTopOj
That’s not a \"brutal slap down\" by Keir Starmer at #PMQs, that’s a rude and nervous little man who is angry that Liz Saville Roberts held up a mirror to him. https://t.co/7I2gj9wKB2
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That’s not a “brutal slap down” by Keir Starmer at #PMQs, that’s a rude and nervous little man who is angry that Liz Saville Roberts held up a mirror to him. https://t.co/7I2gj9wKB2
Despite the backlash, Starmer’s official spokesman has rejected comparisons to Enoch Powell.
He told reporters earlier this week: “I reject that comparison. The prime minister has made the argument that migrants make a massive contribution to the UK and have done for generations, not least those who came after the war.
“But it is also reasonable to recognise that uncontrolled migration of recent years has put pressure on public services.”
I know only too well how a lack of security can affect your mental wellbeing.
I’ve been there as a working mum, making my own way in life. I was often unsure if I could make ends meet from one week to the next, simply because my income wasn’t guaranteed.
Tackling this insecurity in the world of work is at the heart of what I’m fighting for as deputy prime minister. My determination comes from personal experience and it drives me on every single day.
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It’s why our Plan for Change is focused on delivering genuine security and common sense reforms for millions of hardworking people.
Having decent pay, a stable home and a strong sense of community are essential for our wellbeing and sense of purpose, but far too often they aren’t there when we need them.
Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12 – May 18) is a powerful reminder of this. This year’s theme of ‘Community’ says it all: it’s about our need for stability, and a sense of belonging in a supportive home and working environment.
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“Insecurity blights lives, and we’re putting all this right”
And that means certainty about the roof over your head at night, the job you set off to in the morning, the money in your pocket at the end of the week, and your rights, should you fall ill.
As our analysis of the government’s pro-growth, pro-worker, and pro-business Employment Rights Bill shows, supporting employee wellbeing makes for a happier, healthier and more productive workforce – potentially giving the economy a multi-billion pound shot in the arm each year.
Because we know it’s unfair for people to have no choice but to work without guaranteed hours or income.
It’s unfair for them to be threatened with unfair dismissal even if they’ve done nothing wrong.
And for them to be sacked unless they agree to accept lower pay or worse terms and conditions.
As for having to wait three days without sick pay when you are ill – no one should have to endure the added stress of financial hardship while they are unwell.
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This insecurity blights lives, and we’re putting all this right.
Together, we’re building a fairer, more secure future for everyone.
Our reforms protect you from being sacked without good reason.
Workers on unstable pay will have the right to a contract with guaranteed hours, bringing the security they deserve.
The rise in the living wage will boost incomes for the lower paid, because we believe that a hard day’s work merits fair pay.
And every worker will get Statutory Sick Pay for the first time – and from day one of illness.
“We are delivering on what our country needs to see and feel real change”
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Overall, we are opening more doors to employment by making work more flexible and family-friendly, giving employers access to a wider pool of talent across the country.
At the same time, we are taking urgent action to build the affordable homes our country needs, so people have the vital security of a roof over their heads.
We’re reforming the planning system to speed up the construction of 1.5 million homes – including more social housing – and we’re ending section 21 no fault evictions to give renters more stability and security.
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These changes, together with the significant new powers we’re giving local leaders, will mean communities can take back control of their futures and help build stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods. Local people will be able to invest in what matters most to them, from buses to homes.
Work is underway on our £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods, aimed at regenerating and restoring pride in 75 left-behind areas across the UK. Soon, we’ll be announcing new neighbourhood boards and chairs, bringing together residents and businesses to spend their £20 million of funding.
We know that building stronger, more connected communities is vital for people’s wellbeing – a key concern in this Mental Health Awareness Week. Being part of a supportive neighbourhood helps us feel safe and less alone; and it’s important for me that our Plan for Neighbourhoods isn’t just about physical regeneration but making the social connections that underpin a healthier, more resilient society.
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So we are making work pay, ending insecurity, and we are delivering on what our country needs to see and feel real change – because we’re a government that works for working people.
Angela Rayner is the deputy prime minister, the secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne..
A senior official in Donald Trump’s government has said claims that Israel is blocking food from entering Gaza are “fake news” as he clashed with a BBC journalist.
Sebastian Gorka, the US president’s senior director for counter-terrorism, insisted that a “simply gargantuan amount of food” had entered the territory during the ongoing conflict.
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He also repeatedly threatened to end the interview on Radio 4′s World At One as he was questioned by presenter Sarah Montague.
The clash came after Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), told the BBC: “Starvation is spreading, people are exhausted, people are hungry.
“We can expect that in the coming weeks if no aid is coming in, that people will not die because of the bombardment, but they will die because of the lack of food. This is the weaponisation of humanitarian aid.”
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But Gorka said: “I wouldn’t listen to anyone who represents UNRWA. UNRWA is utterly morally corrupt and politically. It’s workers have been found to be actually working with the terrorists and helping to kill innocent individuals simply because they are Jewish.
“If you look at the math of the simply gargantuan amount of food that Israel has allowed into Gaza, which would feed multiples of the residents who live there, you have to ask yourself ‘so where is that food really going?’
“So what’s happening in Gaza is the result of the mass slaughter of innocent men, women and children in the greatest loss of Jewish life since the end of the Holocaust, and Israel has every right to do what it’s doing so it will never happen again.”
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Montague pointed out that UNRWA has more than 30,000 staff, of which nine were found to have “questions to answer and have been removed” over their alleged links to Hamas.
Gorka then interrupted her to say: “That is nine too many. That is the real story. The real story isn’t fake news about starvation. The real story is UNRWA working in league with the terrorists.”
Asked if there would be “a problem with baby formula going into Gaza”, the Trump official replied: “I’m not going to talk about this. It’s garbage, it’s rubbish.
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“There are factors more food going into Gaza than physically can be eaten by the putative population.”
As Montague tried to ask another question, Gorka said: “You’re interrupting me again. I will terminate this interview, OK? If you persist in talking about fake news about starvation in Gaza we are done, we are finished.”
The presenter then asked him: “Do we accept that no food has gone into Gaza in the last two months?”
Gorka replied: “I’m not going to talk about this garbage fake news. If you ask me one more question about it we are done.”
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He went on to accuse Montague of repeating “state propaganda” and added: “If you want to ask me about the incredible things President Trump is doing in the Middle East… I’m prepared to do so. I’m not going to countenance your propaganda.”
Later in the same interview, Gorka also went on an extraordinary rant after being asked about Trump’s willingness to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar.
The president has come under fire after it emerged the plane could serve as Trump’s new Air Force One.
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Trump has defended the move, declaring that it’d be “stupid” for him to pass on the aircraft and claiming it wouldn’t be a “gift” for him but to the US’ Department of Defence.
Critics have since pointed to a clause in the US constitution prohibiting officials from accepting gifts from “any King, Prince, or foreign State” without congressional approval.
Montague asked Gorka: “Is there a problem with this, because it doesn’t look like it’s draining the swamp?”
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Gorka replied: “Do you ever have pangs of conscience that you are so utterly and completely biased that all you can do is give in to your Trump derangement syndrome?
“Have you ever once said anything positive about President Trump or not knelt at the altar of left-wing ideology?”
Underneath it says: “In 14 years, the Conservatives broke Britain. Their record in government must not be forgotten.”
The Reform UK leaflet with no mention of Truss.
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But Truss’s omission from the line-up has raised eyebrows, especially since Farage famously praised the disastrous mini-Budget in 2022 which crashed the economy and ended her premiership.
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Farage was also roasted by Keir Starmer last month amid reports that Truss was advising Reform UK.
Meanwhile, a Reform UK “manifesto” published by Farage in the Daily Mail last Saturday also drew unfavourable comparisons with Truss’s time in office.
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Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal said: “It beggars belief that Nigel Farage is letting Liz Truss off scot-free on his leaflets.
“As he parades his new Truss-style unfunded ‘manifesto’, it appears he’s forgotten her disastrous mini-Budget crashed the economy and sent people’s mortgages soaring.
“Perhaps Nigel Farage thinks her time in office was a success. He’s copying her approach to economic vandalism, and backing her record. That’s a kick in the teeth for people still paying the price for her reckless time in office.
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“The toxic Truss-Farage partnership would need nothing short of a disaster for Britain.”
After his Russian counterpart offered to “resume negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war in Turkey last week, the Ukrainian president agreed – as long as there was a “full and lasting ceasefire”.
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Writing on X, Zelenskyy said: “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting or Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look excuses.”
The Kremlin has not directly responded to the Ukrainian president’s remarks but a Russian senator dismissed them altogether on Monday.
Speaking to Rossiya-24 TV broadcast, the federation council’s deputy speaker, Konstantin Kosachev, said: “It’s pure theatrics, a total farce.
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“That’s not how high high-level meetings are arranged, especially given the seriousness of the situation.”
The senator claimed this would be an “impromptu” meeting and that is not the way to conduct such important negotiations.
He said: “Zelenskyy should known this from his own bitter experience, when he came unprepared to his meeting with President Trump in the White House in February, ending in a complete fiasco for him.”
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The Ukrainian president was actually very prepared for his meeting in the White House in February, but he had to cut the visit short after Trump and his vice-president JD Vanceberated him in front of the press.
At the time Trump was much more aligned with the Kremlin but he has since improved his relationship with Kyiv, and has even questioned if Putin really does want to stop the war.
Even though it was the Russian president who suggested further peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday, Kosachev claimed Zelensky is trying to “turn the tables” on Russia so he can call Putin uncooperative.
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The senior Russian politician continued: “Zelensky does not need a meeting with the Russian president now. He should be afraid of meeting with him. And I am sure that he is afraid, because, as Mr Trump rightly says, he holds no cards. It is true, and Zelensky is in a terrible situation.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov just told reporters that Putin is serious about peace talks.
“This approach, aimed precisely at finding a real diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, eliminating the root causes of the conflict and establishing lasting peace, has met with understanding and support from the leaders of many countries.”
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He cut off any further questions by saying: “That’s all. I’ve said everything I could about this story.”
Pope Leo XIV wasted no time making his position clear on global conflict, using his first Sunday blessing as pontiff to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and call for an end to all wars currently ravaging the world.
“The immense tragedy of the Second World War ended 80 years ago, after so many millions of victims. And now we’re facing the tragedy of a Third World War in pieces, as Pope Francis often said,” the new pope told the massive crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
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“I too would like to address the powerful people of the world by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war.’”
Last week’s conclave swiftly resulted in the unprecedented election of the first North American pope ― a 69-year-old missionary who hails from Chicago and spent much of his life in Peru. His first appearance as pontiff came Thursday, where he delivered a message of peace and unity. On Sunday, he called out specific conflicts and war that have divided much of the world.
A crowd attends the first Sunday blessing by Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, on May 11. Leo (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) was elected to the papacy on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Laura Lezza via Getty Images
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“I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people,” Leo said, referring to Russia’s yearslong war against its neighbour. “May whatever is possible be done to reach an authentic, true and lasting peace as quickly as possible. May all the prisoners be freed. May children return to their families.”
The pope also said that he is “deeply hurt” by the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza due to Israel’s invasion. Leo called for a ceasefire to “immediately come into effect,” for desperately needed aid to reach Palestinian families and for all hostages to be freed.
Leo added that he was “happy to hear” of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, expressing his hope that the two nuclear powers can negotiate a “lasting accord.” Just hours after the ceasefire, however, both countries allegedly restarted their bombing campaigns.
Pope Leo XIV speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he delivered his first Sunday blessing to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, on May 11.
Domenico Stinellis via Associated Press
“My hope would be that he has, now, a new platform to reintroduce what the church has always called for in terms of its social justice agenda, and it will give people another opportunity to take a second look at what Francis was saying – but now in the words and the voice of an American who speaks like an American. I think that’s going to be very powerful going forward,” Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, told ABC’s This Week on Sunday.
“I think he’s going to help complete and complement our political agenda. He’ll talk a lot about the immigrants as well because he knows about the sufferings of people and the real needs that they have for a better life,” Cupich said.
“And he knows too that people in Oceania, for instance, where the rising sea levels are just overwhelming those islands, where people are trying to escape; he sees the drug trade that’s happening in Central and South America, where there are weapons from the United States going there,” he continued. “He knows that those people need an option. And he’ll for, I think, as the bishops have in the United States, fixing this broken immigration system.”
Vladimir Putin has offered to start peace talks with Ukraine after renewed pressure from Kyiv’s western allies.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed his words but made it clear he would only negotiate if a ceasefire were implemented first – the Russian president has refused to agree to any lengthy truce so far.
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So could this be the beginning of the end of the Putin’s bloody war in Ukraine, or is this – as some fear – just another manipulation tactic from the Kremlin?
Here’s what we know.
What has Putin said?
Putin has proposed direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Turkey.
“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said overnight on Sunday. “We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.”
Even though he started the conflict by invading Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian president said the talks should focus on the “root causes” of the war.
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The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed Russia was “provoked” into the conflict, pointing to Nato’s expansion since the fall of the Berlin Wall, although to Ukraine and its allies, it was an imperialistic land grab.
Putin then made a dig at the West, saying: “The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples.”
While Putin insisted Russia no longer needs preconditions for any such talks, the Kremlin has already said Western arms going to Ukraine would need to stop during any ceasefire, otherwise “it will be an advantage” for Kyiv.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed: “Ukraine will use this period to train new military personnel and to give a rest to their existing ones. So why should we grant such an advantage to Ukraine?”
What’s changed?
It comes after European leaders – including Keir Starmer – met in Ukraine over the weekend and threatened to impose “massive” new sanctions on Russia if Putin did not agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire this Monday.
From left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz make a call to U.S. President Donald Trump from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
via Associated Press
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Although Putin dismissed these “boorish” demands as “ultimatums”, he may have felt forced to show he was willing for the conflict to end – especially as his relations with Donald Trump are starting to strain.
Putin has been dragging his heels, offering very few concessions, despite Trump’s push for a quick resolution to the war.
Russia’s previous attempts at ceasefires have been short-lived.
A promise to stop attacking energy infrastructure, a brief Easter ceasefire in April and a three-day pause this week during the 80th anniversary of World War 2 have all failed.
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Ukraine called the latest attempted truce a “farce” and manipulation from Moscow.
Despite these failures, the White House appeared to be willing for the conflict to end on Putin’s terms and considered handed over occupied Ukrainian land to Russia in the name of peace.
Yet Putin still played for time – and Trump has in recent weeks expressed more frustration with the Russian president, having been incredibly sympathetic.
“President Putin is doing whatever is possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means. But having no peaceful and diplomatic means at hand, we have to continue the military operation,” he said.
But does he actually want peace?
What does Russia want?
It’s likely Putin will want to retain as much Ukraine as possible – he currently holds a fifth of the country – and will try to neutralise it by removing its military.
Last June, the president said Ukraine should drop its Nato ambitions and called for it to pull all of its troops out of occupied areas to end the war.
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Russian officials have also suggested the US recognise Russia’s control over parts of Ukraine and called for Ukraine to stay neutral, although that does not mean it could not join EU.
Putin has mentioned the 2022 draft deal which was negotiated after Putin’s initial invasion.
It sees Ukraine agree to permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the UK, China, France, Russia and the US (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council).
Putin claims it was not Russia who broke off those negotiations but Ukraine “at the insistence of the West”.
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Does anyone think Moscow is being serious?
Trump welcomed the change in tune from the Kremlin.
He wrote on Truth Social: “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully coms to an end.”
Zelenskyy also appeared to welcome the news – but he reminded Putin he only wanted to commit to talks if a ceasefire were in place.
He said on X: “It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time.”
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But he added: “And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day.
“We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet.”
Ukraine’s allies also seemed more wary than Trump.
Starmer said on Saturday, “if he [Putin] is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it”.
UK home secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News: “We need a serious response from Russia, they started this illegal invasion of Ukraine and everyone wants to see peace in Ukraine, and now we’ve had the huge international pressure calling for ceasefire, we do need to see a serious response from the Russia regime.
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“That so far has been lacking, I hope that they will now take that seriously.”
“It’s a first step but it’s not enough. An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations,” French president Emmanuel Macron told reporters.
However, as author of Putin’s War on Ukraine Samuel Ramani told Times Radio: “That’s exactly the trap that the Russians are trying to set for Zelenskyy. By not going ahead with the ceasefire, but then making an offer of talks, [they are] setting up a situation where Zelenskyy rejects it.”
“That’s exactly the trap that the Russians are trying to set for Zelensky. By not going ahead with the ceasefire, but then making an offer of talks, [they are] setting up a situation where Zelensky rejects it.”
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“That’s exactly the trap that the Russians are trying to set for Zelensky. By not going ahead with the ceasefire, but then making an offer of talks, [they are] setting up a situation where Zelensky rejects it.”
And it looks increasingly likely that the right-wing party’s leader – who was only elected to be the Clacton MP last July – just might be in with a chance of entering No.10 at the next general election, expected in 2029.
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Even his rivals, such as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, have agreed he might be on course for a major electoral win unless they take drastic action.
Reform UK’s sudden popularity has shaken up Britain’s traditional two-party political system by comprehensively defeating both Labour and the Conservatives at last week’s local elections.
They even managed to overturn a 14,700 majority to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election from Labour.
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Voters are increasingly drawn to the insurgent party because they believe it will bring change the country after 14 years of disappointing Tory rule and 10 lacklustre months from Labour.
A further 11% said they valued Reform’s new approach to politics and welcomed the change they brought, while 8% said they were honest or trustworthy.
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But HuffPost UK has found at least five examples where the populist group has apparently misled the public…
‘Remove DEI from Lincolnshire council’
Andrea Jenkyns promised to remove Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) workers from the Lincolnshire county council when she was elected as Reform UK’s first mayor last week.
Reform claims these employees are known as “outreach officers” in North Lincolnshire Council, and hidden under different titles in Lincolnshire County Council.
‘No more work from home’
Farage has repeatedly promised to introduce “no more work from home” which he claims would lead to “increased productivity.”
Reform claim it is unreasonable for staff paid from the public purse to be working from home.
It was then revealed that Reform UK has several paid jobs on offer right now, including “regional director” which include “home working with occasional travel”.
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Labour MP Stella Creasy wrote on X that the hypocrisy was “glorious”, although Reform party chair Zia Yusuf replied that, “Reform has no plans to legislate against private companies letting their employees work from home”.
He also claimed Reform can only afford one office right now.
The party alleges that it is “unreasonable” to expect regional directors to be in London five days a week, but all employees based in the capital do work from the office every day.
Britain’s Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage is interviewed by Associated Press at their headquarters in Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, England, Friday, June 21, 2024.
via Associated Press
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‘We need a British DOGE for councils’
Reform UK is keen to introduce a British version of Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (DOGE) and “send in the auditors” to all of the 10 councils the party now controls.
“The whole thing has to change. We need a British DOGE for every count and every local authority in this country,” Farage said.
But the National Audit Office has previously warned many councils are already so overstretched, they are facing bankruptcy after years of cuts.
Head of the spending watchdog Gareth Davies said in February: “There have been repeated delays to local government finance reform and government can no longer resort to short-term solutions to support local authorities.
“Action to address this must resolve the systemic weaknesses in local government financial sustainability through a comprehensive, cross-government approach.”
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Reform will ‘resist’ all asylum seekers
Farage has promised to “resist” asylum seekers being housed in all of the new councils that Reform controls.
He said these people were being “dumped into the north of England, getting everything for free”.
Reform councils have promised to use every legal opportunity, including judicial reviews, injunctions and planning laws, to stop this.
But the asylum system is managed by the Home Office, so it’s not clear if Reform UK could make good on its promise.
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‘Net stupid zero’ is ‘destroying’ jobs
Farage’s party has promised to use “every lever” to block “net stupid zero” projects.
Claiming these policies destroy jobs and hinder economic growth, Reform UK says it wants to drill more in oil and gas in the North Sea.
The party argues this would make Britain self-sufficient with its energy supply, as the UK currently has some of the highest industrial energy prices in the world.
But the government is legally committed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the already depleted supplies in the North Sea are exported out of the country anyway – meaning more drilling there will not help reduce British energy costs.
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Analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit also found that, in Greater Lincolnshire alone, net zero industries add 12,209 jobs and around £980m to the local economy.
Paul Nowak, head of the Trade Union Congress, described Farage as a “political fraud and a hypocrite” who “makes Liz Truss look like a politician with integrity” last month.
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HuffPost UK’s compiled list has drawn backlash from Reform’s opponents, too.
Sarah Olney, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “So far Reform UK have been too busy cosying up to Donald Trump and fighting amongst themselves to actually get anything done for local people.
“Instead of undermining our national energy security and being an apologist for Putin’s regime, Nigel Farage should be focusing on what really matters to communities from sorting out the SEND crisis to better community policing.
“The local elections showed that Liberal Democrats are the only party holding up against Reform, because we’re local champions who get the job done.”
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A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK made history in these local elections, being the first party other than the Conservatives or Labour in modern British history to win this set of elections.
“The British public have elected Reform councillors with a clear mandate to cut waste, improve services and bring about serious change. That’s exactly what we’re here to do.”
Only time will tell whether Reform’s inconsistencies will hamper their skyrocketing popularity.
A new Reform UK council leader has called the Ukraine war a “distraction”.
Linden Kemkaran, named leader of Kent County Council a week after Reform UK’s sweeping victories in the local elections, appeared to downplay the impact of the largest conflict in Europe since World War 2.
Speaking after she was named as council leader on Thursday evening, she promised to remove the Ukrainian flag from the chamber.
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Kemkaran told the BBC: “This is Kent country council. We are here to represent the residents of Kent.
“A foreign war being fought thousands of miles away is simply a distraction.
“We are here to serve the people of Kent. That’s what we were elected on. That is what we are going to do.”
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The councillor said Ukrainian people are “amazing” who have contributed to British society, “but a flag doesn’t change any of that”.
Kemkaran continued: “You have to understand that we won a massive majority and we have absolute, ultimate control.”
She was chosen as the council leader from six potential candidates, after a total of 57 Reform councillors were elected.
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But, when pressed about her plans for the council, she said: “This is my first day in a brand new job and you wouldn’t expect me to have all the answers.
“We are going to get the auditors to come in and take a leaf out of Elon Musk’s book and appoint some sort of DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] to go through everything in detail and find out where the money is being spent and whether we can make any changes and make life better for the residents.”
When Yusuf first announced Reform’s plans to change council flags on Monday, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal Mike Tapp accused the party of “sucking up to Moscow”.
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He said: “It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.
