Full order of service for Pope Francis’s funeral

Published

8 months ago

April 26, 2025

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The full order of service for the funeral of Pope Francis has been released by the Vatican.

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, including some 130 delegations.

The service usually lasts about two-and-a-half hours and is mostly conducted in Latin.

It is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who will begin with a procession led by a priest carrying a cross, followed by the coffin and ordained clergy.

Francis will then be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – or Saint Mary Major – rather than at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, like almost all his predecessors.

Watch full coverage of the Pope’s funeral live on Sky News from 8am.

Order of service

Entrance antiphon

The ceremony will begin with the entrance antiphon – one or more psalm verses or sentences from Holy Scripture which are typically sung or spoken.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Praise is due to you in Sion, O God.

To you we pay our vows in Jerusalem.

You who hear our prayer. To you all flesh will come.

Our evil deeds are too heavy for us, but only you can pardon our transgressions.

Blessed the one whom you choose and call to dwell in your courts.

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

And with your spirit.

The Penitential Act

This follows the welcome and is a way for the faithful to confess their sinfulness.

Brethren, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Collect – opening prayer

Let us pray.

O God, immortal shepherd of souls, look on your people’s prayers and grant that our servant Pope Francis, who presided over your Church in charity, may, with the flock entrusted to his care, receive from your mercy the reward of a faithful steward.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

The Liturgy of the Word

First reading – from the Acts of the Apostles

He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

In those days: Peter opened his mouth and said:

‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all – you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.

He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and caused him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me; he revives my soul.

He guides me along the right path, for the sake of his name.

Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, no evil would I fear, for you are with me.

Your crook and your staff will give me comfort.

You have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for length of days unending.

Second Reading – from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians

He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.

Brothers and sisters, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await for, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Acclamation before the Gospel

This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, everyone who believes in the Son should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’

He said to him: ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’

He said to him a second time: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you’.

He said to him: ‘Tend my sheep.’

He said to him the third time: ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him: ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’

Jesus said to him: ‘Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go (this he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God).’

And after saying this he said to him: ‘Follow me.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful

Brothers and sisters, let us pray to God our Father, who today brings us together to commemorate the Paschal Mystery of his only-begotten Son as we celebrate the funeral of the pastor of the universal Church.

May he welcome him into his peace and bestow every blessing upon the Church and the whole world.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the late Pope Francis, that the chief shepherd, who eternally lives to intercede for us, may welcome him into his kingdom of light and peace.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the holy Church of God, that in fidelity to her mandate, she may be, in Christ, a leaven of renewal in our human family.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the souls of the deceased Roman pontiffs and of all those who in the Church proclaimed the Gospel and exercised the priestly ministry, that they may come to share in the heavenly liturgy.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For all the faithful departed, that they may be granted entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For us gathered here, that having celebrated the sacred mysteries, we may one day be called by Christ to enter his glorious kingdom.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

God, our salvation, hear us as we make our prayer in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints: welcome into the assembly of your elect the soul of your servant and our Pope Francis, who put his trust in the prayer of the Church.

Through Christ our Lord.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory Chant

The offertory chant accompanies the procession that brings the bread and wine to the altar.

Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death; lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him’.

Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the offerings

Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, on the peaceful offering of your people, with which we confidently commit to your mercy the soul of your servant Pope Francis, and grant, we pray, that, having been, in the midst of the human family, an instrument of your charity and peace, he may merit to delight in the same, for ever with all your Saints.

Through Christ our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer III

Preface

The hope of resurrection in Christ

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our lord.

In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.

Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.

And so, with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the hosts and powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:

You are indeed holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.

Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you: by the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the body and blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.

For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:

‘Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.’

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:

‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

‘Do this in memory of me.’

The mystery of faith.

We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.

Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your Son, his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.

Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church and, recognising the sacrificial victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself, grant that we, who are nourished by the body and blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become on body, one spirit in Christ.

May he make of us an eternal offering to you, so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, and with all the saints, on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help.

May this Sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.

Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on Earth, with the order of bishops, all the clergy, and the entire people you have gained for your own.

Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have summoned before you: in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.

Remember your servant Pope Francis whom you have called from this world to yourself.

Grant that he who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his resurrection, when from the Earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died, and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body.

To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom.

There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

For seeing you, our God, as you are we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end, through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.

Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

The Communion Rite

At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant our peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.

Who live and reign for ever and ever.

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Communion Antiphon

Let perpetual light shine upon him, with your Saints for ever, for you are merciful.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

LORD, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.

If you O LORD, should mark iniquities, LORD, who could stand?

But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered.

I long for you, O LORD, my soul longs for his word.

My soul awaits the LORD more than watchmen for daybreak.

More than watchmen for daybreak, let Israel hope for the LORD.

For with the LORD there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption

It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God, the living God; when can I enter and appear before the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, by night, by day, as I hear it said all the day long: ‘Where is your God?’

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

As we come to the table of your eternal banquet, we humbly beg your mercy, Lord, for the soul of your departed servant Pope Francis, that he may rejoice at last in possession of the truth in which he faithfully confirmed your people.

Through Christ our Lord.

Final commendation and farewell

Introduction

Dear brothers and sisters, let us commend to God’s tender mercy the soul of Pope Francis, bishop of the Catholic

Church, who confirmed his brothers and sisters in the faith of the resurrection.

Let us pray to God our Father through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit; may he deliver him from death, welcome him to eternal peace and raise up him on the last day.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, queen of apostles and protectress of the Roman people, may God reveal to our Pope the face of his beloved Son and console the Church with the light of the resurrection.

Prayer of the Church in Rome

Holy Mary,

Pray for him.

Holy Mother of God…

Mother of the Church…

Protectress of the Roman people…

The cardinal will then list all holy angels, patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, disciples, pontiffs and holy men and women, which he asks the congregation to pray for.

O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our bishop, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on Earth.

Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer of the Eastern Churches

God of our salvation, grant rest to the soul of your servant.

Lover of mankind, lead him, with the souls of the just, to the blessings of eternal life in your presence.

Guide the soul of your servant to the place of your rest, Lord, where your Saints repose, you who alone are immortal.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

You are our Saviour, our God, who descended into hell and freed those imprisoned there from its pains; now grant repose to the soul of your servant.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

Amen.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, most pure and immaculate, who without loss to her virginity became the Mother of God, pray for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

Have mercy on us, O God, in your great kindness; we beseech you, hear us and be merciful.

Lord, have mercy.

Again, let us pray for the repose of the soul of this departed servant of God, Francis, bishop, that he may be forgiven his every sin and failing.

Lord, have mercy.

May the Lord God lead his soul to the resting place of the righteous.

Let us ask Christ, our immortal king and God, to bestow on him the divine mercy, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins.

Hear us, Lord.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

God of souls and of all flesh, who trampled death underfoot, vanquished the devil and gave life to the world, grant repose to the soul of your departed servant Francis, bishop, in a place of light and joy, a verdant place, a place of blessedness, where suffering, pain and sorrow are no more.

Forgive every sin he committed in thought, word or deed, for you are a gracious God and a friend to mankind.

No one who lives is without sin; you alone are sinless, your righteousness is eternal and your word is truth.

For you, O Christ our God, are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant Francis, bishop, who has fallen asleep.

We give you glory, with your eternal Father and your Holy Spirit, who is gracious and the giver of life, now and forever.

Amen.

May your remembrance be eternal, dear brother, worthy of blessedness, never to be forgotten.

Amen.

Responsory

A responsory is an anthem said or sung by a choir.

I know that my redeemer lives: on the last day I shall rise again.

And in my flesh I shall see God my saviour.

I shall see him myself, face to face and my own eyes shall behold him.

And in my flesh I shall see God my saviour.

Within my heart this hope I cherish:

That in my flesh I shall see God my saviour.

Gracious Father, we commend to your mercy our Pope Francis whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of the Church, a fearless preacher of your word and a faithful minister of the divine mysteries.

Welcome him, we pray, into your heavenly dwelling place, to enjoy eternal glory with all your chosen ones.

We give you thanks, Lord, for all the blessings that in your goodness you bestowed upon him for the good of your people.

Grant us the comfort of faith and the strength of hope.

To you Father, source of life, through Christ, the conqueror of death, in the life-giving Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever and ever.

Antiphons

May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

May choirs of angels welcome you and with Lazarus, who is poor no longer, may you have eternal rest.

Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Luke 1:46-55

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

World

‘Cheap ceasefire’ between Ukraine and Russia would create ‘expensive peace’ for Europe, Norway’s foreign minister warns

Published

5 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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'Cheap ceasefire' between Ukraine and Russia would create 'expensive peace' for Europe, Norway's foreign minister warns

A “cheap ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia – with Kyiv forced to surrender land – would create an “expensive peace” for the whole of Europe, Norway’s foreign minister has warned.

Espen Barth Eide explained this could mean security challenges for generations, with the continent’s whole future “on the line”.

It was why Ukraine, its European allies and the US should seek to agree a common position when trying to secure a settlement with Vladimir Putin, the top Norwegian diplomat told Sky News in an interview during a visit to London on Tuesday.

Ukraine war latest: Trump says Putin has upper hand in peace talks

“I very much hope that we will have peace in Ukraine and nobody wants that more than the Ukrainians themselves,” Mr Eide said.

“But I am worried that we might push this to what in quotation marks is a ‘cheap ceasefire’, which will lead to a very expensive peace.”

Explaining what he meant, Mr Eide said a post-war era follows every conflict – big or small.

How that plays out typically depends upon the conditions under which the fighting stopped.

“If you are not careful, you will lock in certain things that it will be hard to overcome,” he said.

“So if we leave with deep uncertainties, or if we allow a kind of a new Yalta, a new Iron Curtain, to descend on Europe as we come to peace in Ukraine, that’s problematic for the whole of Europe. So our future is very much on the line here.”

He said this mattered most for Ukrainians – but the outcome of the war will also affect the future of his country, the UK and the rest of the continent.

“This has to be taken more seriously… It’s a conflict in Europe, it has global consequences, but it’s fundamentally a war in our continent and the way it’s solved matters to our coming generations,” the Norwegian foreign minister said.

Russia ‘will know very well how to exploit vagueness’

Asked what he meant by a cheap ceasefire, he said: “If Ukraine is forced to give up territory that it currently militarily holds, I think that would be very problematic.

“If restrictions are imposed on future sovereignty. If there’s vagueness on what was actually agreed that can be exploited. I think our Russian neighbours will know very well how to exploit that vagueness in order to keep a small flame burning to annoy us in the future.”

Progress being made on peace talks

Referring to the latest round of peace talks, initiated by Donald Trump, Mr Eide signalled that progress was being made from an initial 28-point peace plan proposed a couple of weeks ago by the United States that favoured Moscow over Kyiv.

That document included a requirement for the Ukrainian side to give up territory it still holds in eastern Ukraine to Russia and Mr Eide described it as “problematic in many aspects”.

But he said: “I think we’ve now had a good conversation between Ukraine, leading European countries and the US on how to adapt and develop that into something which might be a good platform for Ukraine and its allies to go to Russia with.

“We still don’t know the Russian response, but what I do know is the more we are in agreement as the West, the better Ukraine will stand.”

World

Lithuania declares state of emergency over Belarus balloons

Published

12 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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Lithuania declares state of emergency over Belarus balloons

Lithuania has declared a state of emergency over smuggler balloons from Belarus that have disrupted aviation.

Vilnius airport has been closed because of the balloons, which Lithuania says have been sent by smugglers transporting cigarettes in recent weeks.

It also says they constitutes a “hybrid attack” by Belarus, which is a close ally of Russia.

Lithuania is a NATO member and ally to Ukraine during its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

On Tuesday Lithuania’s interior minister Vladislav Kondratovic told a government meeting: “The state of emergency is announced not only due to civil aviation disruptions but also due to interests of national security.”

Mr Kondratovic added that the Lithuanian government had asked parliament to grant the military powers to act with police, border guards and security forces during the state of emergency.

Should parliament agree, the army will be given permission to limit access to territory, stop and search vehicles, perform checks on people, their documents and belongings, and to detain those resisting or suspected of crimes.

Lithuania’s defence minister Robert Kaunas said the military would be permitted to use force for these functions.

Belarus has denied responsibility and accused Lithuania of provocations.

This includes sending a drone to drop “extremist material”, which Lithuania denies.

The emergency measures in Lithuania will last until the government calls them off.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on 1 December the situation at the border was worsening.

She described the balloon incursions a “hybrid attack” by Belarus, and branded it “completely unacceptable”.

World

Ukraine war: The signs Putin is expecting more conflict, not less – and the frank conversation Keir Starmer needs to have

Published

13 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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Ukraine war: The signs Putin is expecting more conflict, not less - and the frank conversation Keir Starmer needs to have

With more than a thousand troops being killed or wounded every day, there’s no sign that Donald Trump’s push to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is reducing the battles on the ground.

Quite the opposite.

Ukraine‘s military chief says Vladimir Putin is instead using the US president‘s focus on peace negotiations as “cover” while Russian soldiers attempt to seize more land.

That means much greater pressure on the Ukrainian frontline, even as Russian and American, or American and Ukrainian, or Ukrainian and European, leaders shake hands and smile for cameras before retreating behind closed doors in Moscow, Alaska, and London.

Putin’s not counting on peace

The lack of any indicators that the Kremlin is looking to slow its military machine down also makes the risk of war spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders increasingly likely.

It takes a huge amount of effort, time, and money to put a country on a war footing as Putin has done, partially mobilising his population, allocating huge portions of government spending to the military and realigning Russia’s vast industrial base to produce weapons and ammunition.

But when the fighting stops, it requires almost as much focus and energy to switch a society back to a peace time rhythm.

Deliberately choosing not to dial defence down once the battles cease means a nation will continue to grow its armed forces and weapons stockpiles – a sure sign that it has no intention of being peaceful and is merely having a pause before going on the attack again.

The absence of any preparations by Moscow to slow the tempo of its military operations in Ukraine – where it has more than 710,000 troops deployed along a 780-mile frontline – is perhaps an indicator that Putin is anticipating more not less war.

How could the war end?

What happens next in Europe will depend on the content of any peace deal on Ukraine.

An all-out Russian defeat is all but impossible to conceive without a significant change of heart by the Trump White House and a massive increase in weapons and support.

The next best result for Ukraine would be a settlement that seeks to strike a fair balance between the warring sides and their conflicting objectives.

This could be done by pausing the fighting along the current line of contact before substantive peace talks then take place, with Ukraine’s sovereignty supported by solid security guarantees from Europe and the US.

But such a move would require Europe’s NATO allies, led by the UK, France and Germany, genuinely to switch their respective militaries and populations back to a wartime footing, with a credible readiness to go to war should Moscow attempt to test their support of Ukraine.

Will Starmer level with the public?

That does not just mean increased spending on defence at a much faster rate – in the UK at least – than is currently planned. It is also about the mindset of a country and its willingness to take some pain.

France is already openly saying that parents may have to lose their children in a war with Russia, while Germany is requiring all 18-year-old men to undergo medical checks for possible national service.

No such tough but frank conversation is being attempted by Sir Keir Starmer with the British public.

The furthest his military chief has gone is to say “warfighting readiness” is his top priority.

But that is meaningless jargon for most of the public. Being ready for war is about so much more than what the professional armed forces can do.

Armies fight battles. Countries fight wars.

Worst case scenario?

The other alternative when it comes to Ukraine is a scenario that sees a sidelined Europe unable to influence the outcome of the negotiations and Kyiv forced to agree to terms that favour Moscow.

This would include the surrender of land in the Donbas that is still under Ukrainian control.

Such a deal – even if tolerated by Ukraine, which is unimaginable without serious unrest – would likely only mean a temporary halt in hostilities until Putin or whoever succeeds him decides to try again to take the rest of Ukraine, or maybe even test NATO’s borders by moving against the Baltic States.

With Trump’s new national security strategy making clear the US would only intervene to defend Europe if such a move is in America’s interests, it is no longer certain that the guarantees contained in NATO’s founding Article 5 principle – that an attack on one member state is an attack on all – can be relied upon.

To have a sense of how a war with Russia might play out without the US on NATO’s side, Sky News and Tortoise ran a wargame that simulates a Russian attack on the UK.

In the scenario, Washington does not come to Britain’s defences, which leaves the British side with very few options to respond short of a nuclear strike.