Russia will not stop if it wins war in Ukraine, US ambassador to the UK warns

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2024

admin

Russia will not stop if it wins the war in Ukraine, the US ambassador to the UK has told Sky News.

Speaking to Sky News presenter Kay Burley from her official residence in central London last week, Jane Hartley said she is “optimistic” that the US will release more funding for Ukraine, but said “anybody who thinks that Russia may stop after this, I think is wrong”.

Follow latest: Three Moscow terror suspects plead guilty

“I was ambassador (to France and Monaco) in 2014, and I saw what happened in Crimea. I don’t know why anybody would say, ‘oh this is it for Russia‘,” she said.

“Democracy, I think, is at stake. So we need to support Ukraine.”

Ms Hartley added that “these are difficult days” after Burley asked if she felt an atmosphere “almost comparable” to that last seen before the Second World War.

She then said that “we want to do everything we can to make sure Ukraine is still a strong democracy and that Russia loses this war”.

‘Not done that well’ on Gaza

The ambassador spoke about Israel’s war on Hamas, saying the humanitarian situation in Gaza “is also terrifying”.

“We believe Israel has a right to defend itself,” she said. “They were attacked. It was a terrorist attack.

“But we believe how they do it is critically important. And that’s why you see Tony Blinken (secretary of state) in the region as much as he is, it’s not just Tony Blinken, it’s our head of CIA, it’s Bill Burns, it’s so many other of our diplomats.

“Because what we want in the end is a situation where Israel feels safe, where there is security and where we can get to a two-state solution where Palestine has economic growth, economic prosperity, hope for its young people. We have not done that well, frankly.”

Ms Hartley also said “no children should ever have to go through” starvation, and that “humanitarian aid has to get in” to Gaza.

Backing Biden

Ms Hartley – a Democrat appointed by the president – also backed Joe Biden as “the best candidate” in the upcoming presidential election.

“I’m a friend. I’m a fan. I’ve known the president for many, many, many years. But all you have to do is look at his record and see where he has brought our country,” she said.

She also defended the president’s cognitive abilities, saying “he has not only ability, but he has a sense of history”.

‘We deeply care’ about Kate

Speaking after picture agencies pulled a picture of the Princess of Wales, the ambassador said: “I want her to know that we are thinking about her, that we care deeply about her.

“We want her to feel better as soon as she can. And I think just being an American, Americans love the Royal Family.”

And when asked about Donald Trump’s threat that he might deport Prince Harry, Ms Hartley said: “It’s not going to happen in the Biden administration.”

Since the interview, Kate has shared that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

Posting on X after the future queen’s statement, Ms Hartley said she was “heartbroken” and wished her a “swift recovery”.

World

Pakistan launches ‘military operation’ against India

Published

6 hours ago

May 10, 2025

admin

Pakistan launches 'military operation' against India

Pakistan has launched attacks on “multiple targets” across India, according to the media wing of Pakistan’s military.

Pakistan said in a statement that retaliatory attacks are underway in response to what it called “continuous provocation” by India, which fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan.

“Multiple targets in this operation are being engaged all across India,” the statement from Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF) said.

Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites, including airbases and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan’s military posted footage on X showing missiles being fired from what appeared to be a mobile launcher.

The AP news agency also said loud explosions have been heard in India-administered Kashmir, in the disputed region’s two big cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and the garrison town of Udhampur.

Meanwhile, an Indian military source told Reuters that India has launched air operations in Pakistan, although no further details were given.

The operations mark the latest escalation in a conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals, triggered by a deadly attack last month in India-administered Kashmir.

Most of the 26 civilians killed were Hindu Indian tourists. India blames Pakistan for backing the assault, an accusation Islamabad rejects.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body which takes security decisions, including those related to the country’s nuclear arsenal.

State-run Pakistan television said three air bases were struck by India on Friday, although Pakistan insisted most of the missiles had been intercepted.

Despite the military offensive, PAF also posted a message on X in what appeared to represent an opportunity to de-escalate the situation.

“Now that a response has been given we hope the neighbour [India] will move to dialogue and diplomacy like Civilized Nations,” it said.

In recent days, both countries have launched a series of missile and drone strikes, although the scale and impact have been consistently questioned by each other.

On Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes on several sites in Pakistani territory. Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter jets.

On Thursday, India claimed to have repelled drone and missile attacks at military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, including Jammu in India-administered Kashmir. Meanwhile, India claimed it struck Pakistan’s air defence systems and radars close to the city of Lahore.

The Indian army said on Friday that Pakistan fired about 300 to 400 drones, targeting military installations along the western borders – a claim strongly denied by Pakistan.

The G7 group of advanced economies, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and Britain, urged maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan.

“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,” a statement issued on Friday said.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

World

European leaders to meet in Ukraine for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks – and issue call to Russia

Published

6 hours ago

May 10, 2025

admin

European leaders to meet in Ukraine for 'coalition of the willing' talks - and issue call to Russia

Sir Keir Starmer will join other European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on the “coalition of the willing”.

The prime minister is attending the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

It will be the first time the leaders of the four countries will travel to Ukraine at the same time – on board a train to Kyiv – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Follow latest updates on the Ukraine war

Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.

Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine and calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.

“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”

The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.

But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.

“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.

“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”

The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.

They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.

This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.

World

Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say

Published

12 hours ago

May 9, 2025

admin

Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.

The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.

Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.

An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.

It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.

On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.

The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.

The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.

India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.