Today’s news summary – Paper Talk 

Thursday’s front pages are largely dominated by President Zelensky’s surprise visit to the UK – the papers note his call for the UK to give Ukraine fighter jets, calling his visit powerful and emotional. 

Zelensky visits the UK

The Guardian and the Financial Times lead with his call for fighter jets – “wings for freedom” as he called it – in their headlines. 

The Sun calls him the “hero” president and leads with an image of him meeting the king. Its headline reads: “Thanks for the tea… Now give me your jets.”

The Daily Mail and the Express say Zelensky’s appeal for jets are putting mounting pressure on PM Rishi Sunak. The papers highlight Boris Johnson’s intervention – with his biggest supporter, the Express quoting him as saying it is time for Kyiv to get “exactly what it needs to finish the job” against Russia.

The i newspaper leads with Russia’s response to the idea of the UK giving jets to Ukraine. The paper says the Russian embassy says the move “would have consequences for the entire European continent”.

Whilst the Telegraph and The Times both say the PM has laid the groundwork for Britain to supply fighter hets. The Daily Telegraph speaks of his “sudden openness” to fulfil the request, whilst the Times’ Quentin Letts says Mr Zelensky would have been recognised as a “warrior” in the time of William the Conqueror. 

Turkey earthquake – death toll nears 16,000 

Several of the front pages report on the earthquake disaster. The Express carries a picture of its reporter surveying the damage in southern Turkey. The paper says time is running out to find survivors as the cold kicks in. 

The Mirror issues its own appeal for aid alongside a picture of a young girl comforting her brother as they wait to be rescued in the rubble.