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Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Sir Keir must not surrender to Brussels
For two centuries and counting, whether the threat arose from Germany, France or Russia, Britain's military has played a critical role in keeping tyranny from the European continent. With the United States increasingly unwilling to pay for the defence of countries that seem to treat Washington with a combination of entitlement and disdain, the United Kingdom's military is more vital to European security than it has been in decades. This appears to have passed Sir Keir Starmer by. The idea that the EU could need defence co-operation with the UK more than Britain needs a further deal with the Continent is anathema to a Prime Minister who spent the Brexit years marinating in Remainer talking points. It is, nevertheless, more than likely true. The EU needs the reassurance and participation of the United Kingdom in its defence. The question is what price we should ask in return. The status of Northern Ireland, for instance, is deeply unsatisfactory, and efforts to remove the barriers to the free flow of trade across the Irish Sea should be undertaken. The EU appears to wish this to be achieved through a deal which would see the UK align with laws made in Brussels, and submit to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. This, surely, would be an excellent point to leverage the threat of non-co-operation on defence matters, and to highlight just how weak the bloc's hand is. For Sir Keir, regrettably, Britain's participation in Europe's defence is a prize and a privilege that London, and not Brussels, should pay for. As such, there is a real risk that the Prime Minister is about to sign away further fishing rights in the UK's waters in exchange for the right to pay into an EU rearmament fund where France is angling to limit the share of spending that can go to British companies, while also giving Brussels greater rights to interfere in the running of the British economy. It is entirely understandable that European capitals might still be insistent that costs be imposed on Britain in case the visible successes of the Brexit project – and in particular, the flurry of free trade deals struck over the past year – might give various countries pause for thought about the continued desirability of membership. It is not clear why Sir Keir Starmer should be willing to go along with this. If Brussels wants British soldiers deployed in its military missions and British foreign policy tightly aligned with decisions made in the bloc, then it is Europe that should be offering concessions. Sir Keir would do well to remember this. So, too, should the EU: given the surging support for Reform UK, and Nigel Farage's militant promises to tear up lopsided treaties with the bloc, a bad deal may well prove to be a short-lived one.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky arrives in Albania for European Political Community summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Albania on May 16 to attend a summit of the European Political Community, presidential spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said, according to the state news channel Freedom TV. The sixth meeting of the European Political Community will focus on Europe's security, including Russia's ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine, among other topics. The summit comes as Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to hold talks in Istanbul for the first time since 2022. Turkish and U.S. officials will also reportedly join the series of discussions. Zelensky's visit follows his trip to Turkey, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Although a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin was anticipated in Istanbul, Putin instead sent a delegation led by his aide, Vladimir Medinsky. Kyiv and its partners have urged Moscow to adopt an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as the first step toward a broader peace deal, a move that Russia continues to reject. Read also: 'It's a mess' — after all the hype, Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul descend into name-calling shambles We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Macron open to deploying nuclear bombers across Europe
Emmanuel Macron is open to deploying French warplanes armed with nuclear weapons to other European countries. 'We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come,' the French president told TF1 television in a marathon three-hour interview on Tuesday night. 'The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey,' he added, pointing to the US nuclear arrangements with Nato countries. However, Mr Macron listed three conditions for such a move. 'France will not pay for the security of others' and it 'will not come at the expense of what we need', he said. 'The final decision will always rest with the president of the republic, as the head of the armed forces.' Mr Macron insisted he had no intention of 'unleashing World War Three ' with Russia. The Telegraph learnt of France's willingness to use its nuclear deterrent to help protect Europe in February, but the French defence ministry declined to confirm the possibility at the time. A French official told The Telegraph that fighter jets carrying nuclear weapons could potentially be deployed to Germany as the US threatens to withdraw its forces from the Continent. This would send a message to Vladimir Putin, while diplomats in Berlin suggested it would pressure Sir Keir Starmer to do the same. 'Posting a few French nuclear jet fighters in Germany should not be difficult and would send a strong message,' the source said in February. Mr Macron's comments come after Friedrich Merz, the new German chancellor, called on Britain and France to extend their nuclear protection as he seeks 'independence' for Europe from Donald Trump's America. America is believed to have about 50 nuclear bombs stored at the Incirlik air base in the south of the Nato member Turkey. France is the EU's only nuclear-armed nation and its nuclear deterrent is currently independent from Nato, while Britain's forms a key part of the alliance's defence strategy. Poland has already made clear it is keen to benefit from France's nuclear deterrent. Mr Macron added: 'There has always been a European dimension in the consideration of what we call vital interests. We do not elaborate on this because ambiguity goes hand in hand with the deterrent.' Elsewhere in the interview, the 47-year-old centrist leader also promised referendums on key issues as he outlined his aims for the remaining two years of his mandate. Mr Macron first took office in 2017 and will step down in 2027 after serving the maximum two terms allowed under the constitution. Since last July, he has struggled to remain relevant on the domestic stage after his decision to hold snap legislative elections backfired, leaving him without a majority. He has recently won plaudits on the international front in seeking to bring an end to the three-year war sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'We must help Ukraine defend itself, but we do not want to unleash a Third World War,' he said. 'The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations.' 'Zero mea culpa' Mr Macron reserved his most strident comments for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who he accused of 'unacceptable' and 'shameful' behaviour in blocking aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. 'What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is unacceptable... There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in. What he is doing is shameful,' he said. However, on Wednesday his performance was widely criticised by the opposition and the French press with Roland Cayrol, a political analyst, summing it up as: 'Zero mea culpa. Permanent self-satisfaction.' Mr Macron ruled out staging a referendum on whether to reverse a pension reform to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 and another mooted by his prime minister, Francois Bayrou, on getting a handle on French public spending. He promised others without going into details. 'No amount of justification could dispel last night's spectacle of impotence. Of an inability to set a course for the next two years,' remarked Patrick Cohen, a political commentator, on France Inter, the top state radio channel. 'There was talk of a new impetus, but it was more like a last will and testament.'
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK cannot afford ‘ostrich strategy' as US withdraws from European defence
The UK cannot afford to adopt an 'ostrich strategy' as the US withdraws from guaranteeing European security, the chairman of a parliamentary committee has warned. Matt Western, who leads the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, urged the Government on Wednesday to reassess the UK's reliance on the US as it prepares to publish a new national security strategy. In a letter to senior Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, Mr Western said previous strategies had been 'underpinned by loadbearing assumptions of America's place in the world' and commitment to international security. He said: 'We caution against any overly hasty moves to plan for a US drawdown. But we also do not endorse an ostrich strategy.' Since coming to power, US President Donald Trump and his administration have indicated a reluctance to continue supporting European security, with some reports suggesting the US could withdraw troops from the continent in a row over defence spending. Mr Trump has also suggested that the US would not come to the defence of Nato allies unless they increase their defence spending. Mr Western urged the Government to use its new national security strategy to 'set out the direction of travel for the UK's areas of most acute strategic reliance on the US', including use of US technology providers, intelligence capabilities and military equipment. He also called for 'a clear-eyed consideration of scenarios in which US assistance may be less forthcoming than previously expected'. The UK currently has significant defence and security ties with the US, including the intelligence sharing Five Eyes agreement. American firms also maintain military equipment, including the F35 jet and the Trident missiles that form Britain's nuclear deterrent, leading some to express concern that Washington could undermine UK security by refusing to supply spare parts. In his letter, Mr Western also repeated complaints that national security adviser Jonathan Powell had not yet been made available for questioning by the committee. Describing the 'reluctance' to allow Mr Powell to give evidence as 'an unforced error of judgment', he added: 'As recent events across the world have shown, upholding accountability and trust in senior national security figures is vital. 'The Government's position is undermining public trust and would upend long-standing precedent which all previous office holders followed.' Mr Western has previously made similar complaints, saying in February his committee had invited Mr Powell to address them three times but with no success. In March, a Government spokesperson insisted 'senior civil servants and ministers with national security responsibility' would provide evidence to the committee.
Jordan Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
UK hosts European ministers for Ukraine talks amid ceasefire call
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy (centre) hosts talks of the 'Weimar+' group focused on Ukraine and the future of European security at Lancaster House in London on Monday (AFP photo) LONDON — The UK on Monday hosted European ministers for "critical" talks on "repelling Russian aggression", after Ukraine's allies demanded that Moscow accept a ceasefire. Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the EU joined Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London for a meeting of the so-called "Weimar+" group. The coalition was set up in February in response to shifting US policy towards the war between Ukraine and Russia, and European security in general, under President Donald Trump. The meeting follows Saturday's visit by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK to Kyiv, where they called for Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to allow for peace talks -- a proposal they said was backed by Washington. The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas renewed the calls for a ceasefire on Monday. "If there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks under fire," she said in London, accusing Russia of "playing games". "It takes two to want peace. It takes only one to want war. And we see that Russia clearly wants war," she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, but did not respond to the European call for a 30-day ceasefire. Lammy said it was time for "Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks". The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired more than 100 drones overnight, despite the calls for a ceasefire to start on Monday. "From 11:00 pm on May 11, the enemy attacked with 108 Shaheds and other types of drones," the air force said, adding that "as of 08:30 am, 55 drones were confirmed downed". 'Existential' challenge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to meet Putin personally in Turkey, but did not say whether he would still attend if Russia refused the European ceasefire proposal. Trump said direct talks were needed to determine whether peace was possible. "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly." The London meeting, where Lammy is expected to announce further sanctions targeting those backing Russia's invasion, will be the sixth gathering of the Weimar+ group and the first hosted by the UK. The talks would cover "repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security", said the UK Foreign Office. They will focus on "both our joint efforts to strengthen European security and securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine", it added. Lammy was joined by his German, Spanish and Polish counterparts, while France was represented by its minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad. European leaders are "facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent", Lammy said ahead of the talks. "The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine -- it is existential for Europe as a whole." Ceasefire plan European leaders have reacted with scepticism to Putin's proposal for direct talks in Istanbul, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that he was merely trying "to buy time". "An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition," he told reporters as he returned to Poland from the meeting in Ukraine. He reiterated his position later Sunday, insisting on the "necessity for a ceasefire" before talks between Putin and Zelensky. In a phone call with Lammy on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington's "top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
