The White House is facing increasing pressure for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, with Donald Trump claiming he is “very close” to a deal.

Ukraine peace talks are back on the UK front pages this morning as plans for talks in London are set to take place. Many of the papers report that the meeting has been ‘downgraded’ after US Secretary of State Mario Marco Rubio pulled out of the talks, followed by his counterparts. 

Instead, London will host diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire in the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia. 

Wednesday’s headlines reflect the busyness of the world with stories from Europe, the US and the Middle East flooding into the UK headlines. 

A little closer to home and there’s some rumblings about the prime minister saying trans women are not real women – a u-turn after the Supreme Court ruled that legally the term “woman” means a biological woman. The right wing are suggesting the prime minister should issue an apology after only coming to this conclusion after the ruling, the left wing are disappointed the prime minister has not stood by his original belief that trans women are women. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a restructuring plan to cut 15% of the State Department’s workforce by closing and consolidating over 100 offices globally.

Elon Musk plans to reduce his time in Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus more on Tesla, amidst a 71% drop in the company’s first-quarter profits and ongoing sales challenges influenced by tariffs.

A recent meeting in Paris involved Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and senior European officials, where they discussed the non-negotiable aspects of a potential Ukraine peace deal.