The US Treasury has established an American-Ukrainian reconstruction investment fund, intended to bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Browsing: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, marking a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014 following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity.
The invasion triggered Europe’s largest refugee crisis since WW2, with millions leaving the country and millions more displaced.
Russia invades Ukraine 2022
In 2014, at the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia annexed Crimea and Russian-backed separatists seized part of the south-eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, sparking a regional war there.
In 2022, Russia began a large military build-up along its Ukrainian border – over 190,000 armed troops. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had continued to deny Russia was planning an invasion until shortly before the invasion.
In a broadcast shortly before the invasion, Putin espoused irredentist views, questioned Ukraine’s right to statehood and falsely claimed the country was being governed by neo-Nazis. Putin also claimed NATO constitutes a threat to Russia’s national security by expanding eastward since the early 2000s, which NATO disputed. Russia demanded NATO cease expansion and bar Ukraine from ever joining. The UK, USA and allies all accused Russia of planning to attack or invade Ukraine, Russian officials and state media continued to deny it up until 23 February 2022.
The invasion began on 24 February – Putin announced it was a “special military operation” to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine. Russia then started missiles and airstrikes across Ukraine as well as a large ground invasion from multiple directions.
The invasion has been widely condemned by the international community.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine hasn’t gone entirely to plan as the Russians underestimated the Ukrainian people’s will to fight for their country.
The EU rejects Russia’s announced ceasefire as a mere ploy to improve relations with Washington, stating that Russia could halt hostilities immediately.
Global military spending surpassed $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.4% increase from the previous year, with over 100 countries raising their military budgets.
Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Russia over recent bombings in Ukraine and reiterated the need for a peace deal, urging Vladimir Putin to halt military actions.
Donald Trump asserts that a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is “very close,” urging President Zelenskyy to finalise the agreement.
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.
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.
Sir Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine during a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasising the need for a full ceasefire from Russia to end the ongoing conflict.
Friedrich Merz, likely Germany’s next chancellor, condemned the recent Russian missile strike in Sumy that killed at least 34, labelling it a “deliberate and calculated war crime.”
Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian citizen, was jailed in Russia for 12 years after her £40 donation to a Ukrainian charity was deemed treasonous.
Germany’s leadership in Europe has weakened following Angela Merkel’s retirement, leaving Olaf Scholz’s government operating as a caretaker amid crises, including economic pressures and geopolitical tensions.
Two gang members, Valeriy Popovych and Vitaliy Lutsak, were sentenced to 6.5 years each for laundering £6.63 million by buying and selling vehicles in Ukraine, exploiting demand created by the war.
Kim Jong Un conducted tests of AI-enabled suicide drones and reconnaissance drones, highlighting North Korea’s emphasis on unmanned technology for military modernisation.
Tuesday’s headlines are heavily focused on what’s happening outside our little island, with heavy coverage of the latest airstrikes in Ukraine and the group chat blunder from top US officials.
A handful of headlines look ahead to Wednesday’s Spring Statement and continue to speculate on potential job losses and cuts to public spending. There is a handful of stand-alone stories on the front pages, covering domestic news.
President Zelenskyy calls for renewed pressure on Russia after a drone attack resulted in seven deaths, highlighting the urgent need to end the conflict.
The prime minister and his plans for British military deployment in Ukraine dominate several newspaper front pages this morning and still find space on the websites – though much has been pushed further down to cover the massive fire at Heathrow Airport and the ongoing travel chaos.
The papers report the prime minister has stepped up plans for a 31-nation military force to provide security guarantees to Kyiv.
The prime minister is having a change of heart regarding putting boots on the ground in Ukraine and instead favours air and sea support.
The country’s defence secretary has warned Britain will not shy away from using nuclear weapons that could do ‘untold damage’ if UK troops are attacked.
The EU has introduced a white paper to bolster member states’ defence capabilities, with plans to mobilise up to €800 billion through loans and relaxed fiscal rules amid concerns over US support and Russian aggression.
President Trump prioritises transactional dealings over ideological loyalties, seeking peace through economic agreements with both Ukraine and Russia.
In the aftermath of a significant phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated, with both nations accusing each other of violating a newly established ceasefire.
Putin agrees in principle to ceasefire in Ukraine but has set tough conditions for peace. The US imposed new sanctions on Russian oil, gas and banking…
UK revokes accreditation for two Russian diplomats in a escalating spat with Moscow, with the British embassy in Moscow on the verge of closure.
Summary of the US Secretary of State’s Statement: Following extensive discussions in Jeddah, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “the ball is now…
Two stories dominate Wednesday’s front pages: the latest from Ukraine and the sentencing of Kyle Clifford.
Many of the tabloids choose to focus on Clifford, who was handed three life sentences with whole orders for the murder of his ex-partner, her sister and her mother. He was also found guilty of raping his ex-partner. The sentence means he’ll never be released from prison. The women were the wives and daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt, whose victim impact statement is quoted in many headlines this morning.
Manchester United’s new £2bn stadium is discussed on the front and back pages, as is Liverpool’s exit from the Champions League.
On the international front, a Ukraine- Russia ceasefire is on the table, awaiting Russia’s agreement, after peace talks involving the US in Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s ongoing tariff war with Canada also makes the front pages after he announced a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminium. Trump’s announcements, which he’s since backtracked on, saw metal prices rise and the stock markets fall.
Cliff notes Moscow and Region Targeted in Unprecedented Drone Assault