Western military chiefs set to meet to discuss ‘operational phase’ of Ukraine peace deal

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5 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Military chiefs from around the world will meet next week to discuss the “operational phase” of protecting Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The prime minister hosted a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Saturday, which involved leaders of 26 nations, including Ukraine, plus the EU and NATO, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking after the 90-minute meeting, Sir Keir revealed military chiefs from the group of Western nations would meet on Thursday as they move “into an operational phase”.

He said they would draw up plans to help secure Ukraine “on the land, at sea and in the sky” if a peace deal can be agreed with Russia.

Ukraine war latest: We must be prepared to defend peace deal

The day before, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted a proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire as Russia agreed to an end to fighting, however, President Vladimir Putin said “lots of questions” remain over the proposals.

Notably absent from Saturday’s call was US President Donald Trump, but Sir Keir reiterated any peace deal requires a US backstop.

He said the UK is talking to the US “on a daily basis” and there is a “collective resolve” to end the war, which has been shown by the “momentum we’re building up now” by the many allied countries being “on the same page” both politically and militarily.

He said Thursday’s meeting of military chiefs “is very much an operational planning meeting”.

The PM added the “coalition of the willing” had increased in size since leaders met for the first time just under two weeks ago at Lancaster House in London.

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was the most notable addition after reports she would “shun” the meeting because she is “not convinced” by the Anglo-French plan to send European peacekeepers to Ukraine.

PM dodges what rules of engagement would be

Answering a question from Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates on what the rules of engagement would be for troops on the ground as part of a peacekeeping process, Sir Keir said the meeting will set that out.

He said he has already indicated he wants the UK “to play a leading role” in the provision of troops and air power, while other countries will have different capabilities.

But, he said a peace deal needs to be achieved first, which requires more pressure on Russia.

“If there’s going to be lasting peace, there’s going to have to be security arrangements,” the PM said, noting that Putin has previously broken a peace deal with Ukraine.

‘World needs action, not a study’

Sir Keir also said on the call that the gathering of leaders rejected Mr Putin’s “yes, but” approach, in reference to the Russian president saying he would agree to a ceasefire but there must be a “study” into how that would look.

The prime minister said: “The world needs action, not a study, not empty words and conditions. So my message is very clear. Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table.

“So this is the moment that the guns fall silent, that the barbaric attacks on Ukraine once and for all stop and agree to a ceasefire now.”

The PM revealed seizing Russian assets was discussed in the meeting but said it was “a complicated question”.

Despite striking US absence, progress was made

Amanda Akass

Political correspondent

@amandaakass

While Sir Keir Starmer’s coalition of willing world leaders weren’t standing literally shoulder to shoulder at this morning’s meeting, their united presence still sent a powerful message of support to the Ukrainians after another tumultuous week.

It was clearly important to make a united statement of conviction that the Ukrainians are the “party of peace”, willing to sign up to a ceasefire without conditions, and the Russians, therefore the de facto party of war, delaying a ceasefire and continuing with their “barbaric attacks”.

But what of the “concrete commitments” Sir Keir said he wanted to secure from the meeting?

While the PM said new commitments had been made, he gave no specific details beyond insisting the coalition would be moving into an “operational military planning” phase, with a meeting of military leaders to be held in the UK.

He had no detailed answer to Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates’ question about what power any troops deployed as part of the coalition of the willing would actually have to police any deal, arguing he was willing for UK forces to play a leading role but that operational capabilities will be discussed on Thursday.

Today’s messages were directed at both Russia and the US. Starmer insisted Russia would be forced to the table sooner or later – by the increased military support given to the Ukrainians and through the threat of greater economic sanctions. The long-held hope of seizing frozen Russian assets was also discussed, he said.

And as for his audience in the White House, the PM was demonstrating again that Europe and its allies have been listening to his calls to do more to shoulder the burden of defending Ukraine – and themselves.

But his argument that no peace deal can be secure and lasting without American security guarantees is unchanged. He reiterated all this needs to be done “in conjunction with the United States” and said his team are in daily talks with Washington.

For all the political power assembled online today, the absence of the US is as striking as ever. Despite that, progress continues.

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of lying to everyone

President Zelenskyy revealed he addressed the meeting and told them the path to peace “must begin unconditionally” and if Russia does not want to do that “then strong pressure must be applied until they do”.

He said the 30-day ceasefire proposal from the Americans negotiating in Saudi Arabia with the Russians has been on the table since Tuesday but accused Mr Putin of “lying to everyone” about the situation on the ground and about how a ceasefire is “supposedly too complicated”.

The Ukrainian leader pleaded with the West to “define a clear position on security guarantees” and for European nations to invest in defence so the continent has “its arsenals and the capability to produce the most advanced weapons”, and to strengthen air defence.

Mr Zelenskyy suggested another coalition of the willing meeting will be held in a week’s time.

Who is part of the ‘coalition of the willing’?

The leaders involved in Saturday’s call were from: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and the UK.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa also joined.

World

Nine Palestinians killed, including three journalists, in Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Nine Palestinians killed, including three journalists, in Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza has killed at least nine Palestinians, including three local journalists, the territory’s health ministry has said.

The strike hit a car, with casualties inside and outside the vehicle, and several people were critically injured, according to officials in the Gaza Strip.

Six volunteers from the Al Khair Foundation were “deliberately targeted” and killed while on their way to deliver aid in the northern town of Beit Lahia, said the UK-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Among the six were the three journalists – Mahmoud al Sarraj, Mahmoud Isleem, and Bilal Abu Matar – who were recording humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by the war in Gaza, the foundation said.

The other three victims have been named as Bilal Akeela, Mohammad al Ghafir, and Hazem Gharib.

The foundation said: “The first strike injured one team member, prompting them to move away, but a drone followed them and struck their vehicle directly with a second strike, killing them all.”

What has Israel’s military said?

In a statement, the Israeli military said it had struck two individuals who it identified as “terrorists” operating a drone that it said posed a threat to forces in Beit Lahiya.

The military later struck several other suspects who it said had collected the drone equipment and entered a vehicle.

The military did not say how it had established that the individuals it had struck were “terrorists” or provide details about the threat that the drone had posed to its troops.

Gaza official denies army’s claims

Salama Marouf, the head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied the Israeli army’s allegations.

“The team was made of civilians and worked in an area near a shelter on a mission sponsored by a charity. They didn’t exist in a prohibited area and didn’t pose any danger of any kind to the occupation army,” Marouf said in a statement.

Saturday’s incident underscores the fragility of the 19 January ceasefire agreement that halted large-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials say dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire despite the truce.

The airstrike coincided with a visit to Egypt’s capital Cairo by Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief, Khalil al Hayya, for further truce talks aimed at resolving disputes with Israel.

The militant group has accused Israel of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement, putting the number of Palestinians killed since 19 January, it says, at 150.

Hamas urged mediators to compel Israel to move ahead with the implementation of the phased ceasefire deal, blaming Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the current impasse.

What next for ceasefire deal?

The temporary first phase, where Hamas released dozens of Israeli hostages in return for around 1,500 Palestinian prisoners being freed from Israeli jails, expired on 2 March.

But Israel says it wants to extend the first phase, a proposal backed by US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Hamas says it will only resume freeing hostages under the second phase.

Israel has rejected opening the second phase of talks, which would require it to negotiate over a permanent end to the war, which is Hamas’s main demand.

The war began when Hamas militants carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.

Israel responded by launching an air and ground offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, say Gaza health officials.

The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but said more than half of the fatalities were women and children.

World

Donald Trump launches strikes against Yemen’s Houthis

Published

4 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Donald Trump launches strikes against Yemen's Houthis

US President Donald Trump has launched strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he also warned Iran the country’s support for the group must “end immediately”.

The Iran-backed Houthis reported a series of explosions in Yemen‘s capital Sanaa on Saturday evening.

The Houthi-run health ministry said in a post on X that at least nine civilians have been killed and nine others injured.

Images shared online show plumes of black smoke over the area of the city’s airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.

Mr Trump said the strikes were over the group’s attacks against ships in the Red Sea.

“Your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today. If they don’t, hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before,” he said.

The president said Iran would be held “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy, adding: “And we won’t be nice about it!”

The strikes come days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza, although there have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.

“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,” Mr Trump wrote.

“These relentless assaults have cost the US and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.”

The Houthis launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping from November 2023, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.

The US, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen.

According to a US official, the operation – the first strike on the Houthis under the second Trump administration – was conducted solely by the US.

The Houthi media office said the strikes hit “a residential neighbourhood” in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab.

Sanaa residents said at least four airstrikes hit the Eastern Geraf neighbourhood in the district, terrifying women and children in the area.

“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”

Similar missile strikes against the Houthis were done multiple times by Joe Biden’s administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.

World

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there is a ‘good chance’ of ending war in Ukraine

Published

1 day ago

March 14, 2025

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there is a 'good chance' of ending war in Ukraine

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said there is a “good chance” to end the war with Russia.

The embattled Ukrainian president was speaking after he accepted a proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire and Vladimir Putin stuck to his red lines on needing certain conditions to be met.

“Right now, we have a good chance to end this war quickly and secure peace. We have solid security understandings with our European partners,” Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

“We are now close to the first step in ending any war – silence,” he said, referring to a truce.

Ukraine war latest updates

He later urged the US and other allies to place further pressure on Moscow and reiterated his belief Mr Putin will delay the ceasefire for as long as possible.

“If there is a strong response from the United States, they will not let them play around. And if there are steps that Russia is not afraid of, they will delay the process,” he said.

Mr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire along the more than 1,000km (600-mile) frontline could be controlled with US help through satellites and intelligence – earlier this week Washington resumed intelligence sharing and military aid after Ukraine accepted the ceasefire.

Mr Zelenskyy also said officials at a meeting between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia this week discussed the issue of territory, but a difficult dialogue would be required to resolve it.

“The issue of territories is the most difficult after the ceasefire,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

It comes as Donald Trump said he sees “pretty good vibes coming out of Russia”, and he thinks Moscow will make a deal on the war.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has left thousands dead and injured, with millions displaced and towns and cities destroyed.

After three years of war Moscow’s forces now control nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and have been advancing since the middle of last year.

“The ceasefire unblocks the way for the sides to end the war. And the territories… will be the point that makes it
possible to end the war after this issue is resolved,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

The Kremlin has demanded Kyiv permanently cede the territory it has claimed.

Mr Zelenskyy also said he was discussing future security guarantees and economic support with Kyiv’s allies, saying 100% air defence cover would be required as deterrence in a peace deal.

Meanwhile, Mr Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss the details of the proposal and has asked him to convey Moscow’s thoughts to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

It comes ahead of a video call between Sir Keir Starmer and around 25 world leaders on Saturday, in which he will urge them to make concrete commitments to support Ukraine and increase pressure on Mr Putin to accept a ceasefire.