Eighteen European leaders convened in London to address the strained relationship between Ukraine and the United States, with Britain and France forming a “coalition of the willing” to devise a strategy for concluding the conflict with Russia. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that several nations expressed willingness to join the UK and France in deploying troops to Ukraine contingent on a cease-fire between Kyiv and Moscow. He also revealed plans to allow Ukraine to utilize £1.6 billion in British export financing to acquire over 5,000 air defense missiles.
The urgency of the meeting increased following a tense encounter between Zelensky and President Trump, which raised concerns that the U.S. might pressure Ukraine into a peace agreement favoring Russia. Currently, neither Europe nor Ukraine is included in potential negotiations led by Trump, who has not provided security assurances to Ukraine.
Starmer remarked, “We are at a crossroads in history,” emphasizing Europe’s responsibility while stating, “To support peace, and to succeed, this effort must have strong U.S. backing.” Many Ukrainians are left questioning the reliability of U.S. support after the meeting.
In related news, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Cyber Command to cease offensive operations against Russia.
In a separate development, Israel announced an immediate halt to the entry of goods and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, aiming to compel Hamas to agree to an extension of the cease-fire. This decision is expected to exacerbate the hardships faced by approximately two million residents of Gaza and complicates the situation for remaining Israeli hostages.
Prior to the announcement, Israel had proposed a seven-week cease-fire extension, during which Hamas would release half of the living hostages and the remains of deceased ones. Hamas rejected the offer, labeling Israel’s actions as “cheap blackmail,” yet expressed a willingness to negotiate further.
Analysts suggest that Hamas is unlikely to accept new proposals without additional negotiations, as Israel’s offer allows for hostages to be returned without reciprocal commitments.
In the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked “emergency authorities” to expedite the shipment of $4 billion worth of weapons to Israel.
In Syria, security forces were deployed in a town near Damascus following a recent gunfight between residents and security personnel.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 militia has made significant advances in the eastern regions, despite the Congolese military's substantial troop numbers. The military's struggles are attributed to a lack of motivation among soldiers, internal conflicts, and a legacy of weak leadership.
In cultural news, the 97th Academy Awards took place, honoring various films, including “Anora,” which won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Controversy arose as the documentary “No Other Land,” addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was also awarded. The event featured tributes to Hollywood figures and highlighted significant moments from the night.
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