A resolution calling for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire” in Gaza will be voted on by the UN Security Council today.
The draft has been sponsored by the US, Israel’s closest ally, which has vetoed three resolutions calling for a ceasefire in recent months.
A cessation of hostilities is described as “imperative” for protecting civilians and enabling humanitarian aid to reach more than two million Palestinians.
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0:57
Former hostage of Hamas speaks to Sky News
US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has expressed optimism that the 15-member council will approve the resolution.
Moscow has said it will not be satisfied “with anything that doesn’t call for an immediate ceasefire”.
Its deputy UN ambassador has questioned the draft’s wording.
“What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but… it’s only an imperative, not $100.”
Analysis: Will the US resolution pass?
Is today the moment the world’s top diplomatic body comes together in a collective call for a ceasefire in Gaza? Or will messy, discombobulating and cynical geopolitics get in the way? Will Russia vote for an American resolution?
At 9am New York time (1pm UK time) the United Nations Security Council will vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Déjà vu? Yes. We’ve been here several times before. Resolutions over the past few months have used different constructions of the same sentences by different countries to find a form of word upon which all sides can agree.
Every time, the United States has been the blocker, vetoing calls for ceasefires because it argued they would only benefit Hamas.
This resolution is different. It was penned by America using its strongest language to date.
In other developments, Israel’s spy chief is heading to Qatar as negotiations on a potential ceasefire continue there.
The US is helping to mediate the talks, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing hope a deal could be reached.
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“Negotiators continue to work. The gaps are narrowing, and we’re continuing to push for an agreement in Doha. There’s still difficult work to get there. But I continue to believe it’s possible,” he said.
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1:54
‘Israel needs to do more’
A six-week truce is being discussed that would allow the release of 40 Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.
This would pave the way for more aid to enter Gaza – with experts recently warning that “famine is imminent”.
Image: Palestinian children wait to receive aid in Rafah. Pic: Reuters
Mr Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet today – as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the conflict began.
There are growing disagreements between Mr Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden over Tel Aviv’s determination to launch a ground assault in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge.
Speaking in Cairo on Thursday, Mr Blinken had warned: “A major military operation in Rafah would be a mistake, something we don’t support. And, it’s also not necessary to deal with Hamas, which is necessary.”
Mr Netanyahu has told US politicians he plans to proceed with the operation nonetheless.
Image: Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Donald Trump when they met last week. Pic: Reuters
It was a stunning illustration of Mr Trump’s about-face in his approach to peace. For the past six months, a ceasefire has been his priority, but after meeting Mr Putin in Alaska, suddenly it’s not.
Confirmation that he now views the war through Moscow’s eyes.
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2:10
Trump applauds Putin and shares ride in ‘The Beast’ last week
The second was the format itself, with Mr Trump reverting to his favoured ask-what-you-like open-ended Q&A.
In Alaska, Mr Putin wasn’t made to take any questions – most likely, because he didn’t want to. But here, Mr Zelenskyy didn’t have a choice. He was subjected to a barrage of them to see if he’d learnt his lesson from last time.
It was a further demonstration of the special status Mr Trump seems to afford to Mr Putin.
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The third was their phone call. Initially, President Trump said he’d speak to the Kremlin leader after his meeting with European leaders. But it turned out to be during it.
A face-to-face meeting with seven leaders was interrupted for a phone call with one – as if Mr Trump had to check first with Mr Putin, before continuing his discussions.
We still don’t know the full details of the peace proposal that’s being drawn up, but all this strongly suggests that it’s one sketched out by Russia. The White House is providing the paper, but the Kremlin is holding the pen.
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1:25
Trump, Zelenskyy and the suit: What happened?
For Moscow, the aim now is to keep Mr Trump on their path to peace, which is settlement first, ceasefire later.
It believes that’s the best way of securing its goals, because it has more leverage so long as the fighting continues.
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But Mr Putin will be wary that Mr Trump is pliable and can easily change his mind, depending on the last person he spoke to.
So to ensure that his sympathies aren’t swayed, and its red lines remain intact, Russia will be straining to keep its voice heard.
On Monday, for example, the Russian foreign ministry was quick to condemn recent comments from the UK government that it would be ready to send troops to help enforce any ceasefire.
It described the idea as “provocative” and “predatory”.
Moscow is trying to drown out European concerns by portraying itself as the party that wants peace the most, and Kyiv (and Europe) as the obstacle.
But while Mr Zelenskyy has agreed to a trilateral meeting, the Kremlin has not. After the phone call between Mr Putin and Mr Trump, it said the leaders discussed “raising the level of representatives” in the talks between Russia and Ukraine. No confirmation to what level.
Donald Trump wants to set up a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. How would that work? And would it accelerate peace in Ukraine?
Zelenskyy and other European leaders made their way to Washington DC. What was their goal? To make sure Trump is still on their side – and to make sure he’s not got too close to Putin and his plans to annex parts of Ukraine after the pair met in Alaska.
How much of a turning point was the White House summit in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
If you’ve got a question you’d like the Trump100 team to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk.
You can also watch all episodes – including the interview with Tim – on our YouTube channel.
It’s always wise to let the dust settle before reaching conclusions with this presidency.
But on the face of it we are further away from peace now than we were two weeks ago.
The consensus that was held back then was that Vladimir Putin would only relent under maximum pressure. He does not want slivers of territory. He wants the whole of Ukraine extinguished and absorbed into his greater Russia.
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2:23
What’s next for Ukraine?
To stop him, allies agreed an immediate ceasefire was necessary, along with much more painful pressure, namely sanctions hitting his oil industry. Europeans and Republicans in Congress agree on that.
Then Alaska and Donald Trump’s U-turn. No ceasefire and no more severe sanctions. So less pressure.
Yesterday’s reality TV diplomatic circus in Washington has not shifted him on that stance, so he stays it seems now aligned with Mr Putin on those crucial points.
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0:42
Starmer: This needs to be a lasting deal
Making matters worse for Ukraine, allies seem to be accepting it will have to give up land taken by force.
They sweeten the pill by saying of course only Ukraine can decide whether or not to cede territory, but there is now enormous pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do so.
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In return there is nebulous and vague talk of security guarantees. European leaders are seizing on the fact Mr Trump did not rule out American troops being involved and hinted at US support for post-war security arrangements.
But that is little consolation for Ukrainians. They point out this president changes his mind as often as his socks and goes back on commitments, even those enshrined in international treaties.
The best that can be said for the White House meeting is it sets up more such meetings.
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Much of yesterday’s events were focused on stroking President Trump’s ego. Many here in Kyiv would prefer he was reminded of a few hard facts about this war. Mr Putin cannot be trusted. Mr Putin wants the end of Ukraine. Mr Putin will only relent under maximum pressure.
Protracted international diplomacy may suit Mr Trump’s craving for attention, but they fear it will only take us further away from peace.