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Good morning. In the wake of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s controversial treatment at the White House on Friday, the Ukrainian president was greeted with a warmer reception during his visit to the UK yesterday. However, whether his bear hug from Keir Starmer and meeting with King Charles will have any real impact on the war in Ukraine remains to be seen.
Zelenskyy was in the UK to attend a European summit hosted by Starmer, aiming to push forward with proposals that might secure support in Kyiv and Washington. While there were some displays of European unity, the White House and its allies continued to suggest that Zelenskyy’s actions were provocative, potentially hindering the prospects of a lasting peace. Zelenskyy has since refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing from the Oval Office meeting but expressed his willingness to speak with Trump again.
Over the past few days, significant events have unfolded, and the dust is still settling. This newsletter provides updates on these developments and what might happen next. Here are the key stories.
Five big stories
- Gaza | Israel is exerting pressure on Hamas by cutting off humanitarian supplies to Gaza in an attempt to secure hostages without pulling back its troops.
- UK news | It is reported that at least 25 undercover police officers in the UK formed sexual relationships with the public, deceiving them about their true identities.
Religion | Pope Francis, currently hospitalized with pneumonia, has thanked well-wishers after missing his third consecutive Sunday Angelus service.
Sick pay | More than 1 million of the lowest-paid UK workers are set to benefit froma guarantee of sick pay worth up to 80% of their weekly salary from day one of illness.
From the Oscars 2025 | The low-budget comedy Anora has triumphed, sweeping the Oscars including best picture and best actress categories. Scroll to read more of The Guardian’s coverage of the ceremony.
In depth: ‘We have to bridge this’
Following the summit’s intimate gatherings, it proceeded in a manner more diplomatic than Friday’s White House visit. Behind closed doors, leaders emphasized unity in support of Ukraine, reinforcing their commitment to ‘rearm Europe’ and fortify Ukraine’s defenses against potential invasions.
European leaders have called for a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine, but the response from Kyiv, the Kremlin, and the White House is still uncertain.
European conference | Promises made, but details scarce
A series of announcements followed the summit’s conclusion, led by Keir Starmer. He mentioned that a number of allies were ready to join a “coalition of the willing” for potential military support in Ukraine but deferred further comments to the respective countries. Starmer also announced a £1.6bn loan to Ukraine for purchasing 5,000 advanced air defence missiles from the UK. Other key figures expressed similar support, including discussions on increased defense spending and a potential parliamentary “bomb bank” plan.
Starmer remains optimistic about Trump’s willingness to collaborate, asserting that he spoke with the US president and believes the action would bear positive outcomes. However, there remains skepticism about whether the White House will support these initiatives.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/first-edition-ukraine-keir-starmer-volodymyr-zelenskyy
