International news has dominated much of the agenda over the weekend and into this morning, as the Munich Security Conference wrapped up its final day of proceedings.
With the US announcing to the world it was engaging with Russia over peace talks in Ukraine, Europe has scrambled into action, leading to French President, Emmanuel Macron, holding an emergency meeting in Paris today. Kicking off from 3pm, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – in likely his last international event before the national election this weekend – and Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, all find themselves in the French capital this morning.
European diplomatic sources said the summit would also include Italy and Denmark – representing the Baltic and Scandinavian countries – alongside the man of the hour, Nato Secretary General, Mark Rutte.
The meeting will aim to outline a European action plan after days of chaotic briefings by the Trump administration. The delegation will also need to decide how to respond to the US request to spell out whether leaders are prepared to commit troops to a stabilisation force in the event of a ceasefire — with Sir Keir announcing late last night in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, that the UK, indeed, is.
It comes as the peace talks, taking place in Riyadh, also hastily take place. This is ahead of the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later this week.
Warning of the ramifications of such talks, the blindsided Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he was doubtful that Vladimir Putin was prepared to make any concessions - repeating his claim Russia was planning an attack on NATO countries next. His statement came only hours before the US—having supposedly insisted Ukraine would be involved in any negotiations—confirmed Zelensky wasn’t invited and isn’t going to the Saudi Arabian capital.
Making the bad news worse for the Ukrainian president – if that was at all possible – US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth all but stunned allies, according to some critics, in a speech setting out what many saw as a series of concessions Ukraine would have to make to sign any peace deal with Russia brokered by President Trump. Hegseth said it was "unrealistic" to think Ukraine could win back its sovereign territory occupied by Russia, as was its demand for NATO membership, adding it was up to European and not US troops to keep the peace.
Back in the UK, Zelensky’s fear of an emboldened Russia was echoed by former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, who warned there was "no doubt" Russia would invade elsewhere before long. Speaking on BBC 4’s The World This Weekend, Sir John argued Trump's American "isolation" policy was creating a power vacuum that would bolster nations like Russia and China.
With today marking the start of a week-long recess for the Commons, the break will feel like a far cry for many in government as they prepare for the long-anticipated meeting between the Prime Minister and Trump next week in Washington DC. Vowing to take the message from today’s meeting in Paris with him, he will no doubt be feeling the pressure to prove he is ready to take on the responsibility of creating the much-needed bridge across the Atlantic.
Consultations
- Draft strategic steer to the Competition and Markets Authority - Closes 6th March
- Input into the steel strategy – Closes 30th March
- Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy – Closes 4th April
Statistics
- Seizures of Drugs in England and Wales, Financial Year Ending 2024 – Published 16th February
- Environment Agency Chief Regulator’s Report 2023-24– Published 17th February
- UK Defence Export Statistics 2023 – Published 17th February