Britain must now be a voice for Ukraine
When the histories of the Ukraine war are written, Britain's actions at its outbreak are likely to be viewed as pivotal to its outcome. When other capitals dithered, London supplied military aid, including NLAW anti-tank weapons, and rallied support around the world.
This conflict now appears to be approaching a possible conclusion, with Donald Trump declaring his intention to open negotiations with counterpart Vladimir Putin. Notably, Europe does not appear to be set to play a significant role in the negotiations.
Diplomats across the continent have made clear their displeasure at this outcome, but the simple reality of hard power is that he who pays the piper calls the tune. European capitals have spent years talking as if this were the second coming of 1938, on the precipice of a potential continental war of cataclysmic proportions. With a few noble exceptions such as Warsaw, however, they have not backed these words with the requisite spending on defence. If Donald Trump feels able to unilaterally decide the future of Europe, it is because Europe has passed up the opportunity to decide it for itself.
With that said, it is clear that Ukraine, at least, should be allowed some say in its future. President Zelensky has stated that it will not accept any deal negotiated without Kyiv's participation. While there is little doubting its will to fight on, there are legitimate questions about its ability to do so without the support provided by the United States.
Just as Britain stepped up at the beginning of this conflict, it should step up again as it approaches its potential end. Our role now is to be a voice for Ukraine and its interests, to ensure that these are not lost in the rush to strike a bargain, and that preparation is made for its reconstruction.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
16 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Greta Thunberg says she was kidnapped by Israeli forces in international waters
Greta Thunberg on Tuesday accused Israel of kidnapping her and her fellow pro-Palestinian activists in international waters, saying she declined to sign a document stating she entered the country illegally prior to being deported. Speaking in the arrivals section of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport after being deported from Israel, the Swedish activist said she and her team had broken no laws, and called for the immediate release of the activists still in Israel. Advertisement "I was very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped on international waters and brought against our own will into Israel," she said. She laughed off criticism from US president Donald Trump, who had described her as an angry person, saying: "I think the world needs a lot more young angry women to be honest, especially with everything going on right now." World Greta Thunberg deported from Israel after Gaza-bou... Read More Thunberg (22) arrived in Paris a day after the Israeli navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel as it neared Gaza early on Monday, trying to break through a years-old naval blockade of the coastal enclave, and seized the 12-strong crew, including Thunberg. Thunberg denied her mission to deliver aid to Gaza by breaking through a years-old naval blockade of the coastal enclave was a PR stunt, saying a previous effort in a larger boat was ended after the vessel was bombed. She said she was now in desperate need of a shower and sleep. She admitted it was unclear where she would be heading next, telling reporters it could be Sweden.
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Los Angeles braces for arrival of more troops in ‘crisis of Trump's own making'
Los Angeles on Tuesday was bracing for new troop arrivals after a quieter night following four days of protests over federal immigration raids on local businesses. The initial deployment of 300 national guard troops is expected to quickly expand to the full 4,000 that has been authorized by Donald Trump, with an additional 700 marines who could begin arriving on Tuesday. The US Northern Command, or Northcom, said in a statement on Monday that marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division 'will seamlessly integrate' with forces 'who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area'. Northcom added that the forces had been trained in de-escalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force – and that approximately 1,700 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California national guard unit, were already in the greater Los Angeles area. The national guard and marine detachments were being dispatched to the US's second largest city over the objections of California's governor, Gavin Newsom. And the state is now suing the Trump administration, claiming the president illegally federalized the national guard to confront protesters in Los Angeles. California's attorney general, Rob Bonta, said on Monday that the state's sovereignty was 'trampled'. But Trump countered that his administration had 'no choice' but to send in troops. The national guard are not believed to be involved in crowd control but assigned to protect federal property. 'If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground right now, much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A. do to an incompetent Governor and Mayor' Trump said in a Truth Social post early on Tuesday, referring to the response to wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles county late last year. Trump later deleted that post and published another with the correct spelling of 'due'. But the deployment is strongly opposed by California Democrats. Senator Alex Padilla told the Associated Press on Tuesday that protests against the US's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as well as the subsequent legal showdown between his state and the government 'is absolutely a crisis of Trump's own making'. 'There are a lot of people who are passionate about speaking up for fundamental rights and respecting due process, but the deployment of national guard only serves to escalate tensions and the situation,' Padilla said. 'It's exactly what Donald Trump wanted to do.' Padilla slammed the deployment as 'counterproductive' and said the Los Angeles sheriff's department had not been advised of the federalization of the national guard. He said his office had pressed the Pentagon for a justification, and 'as far as we're told, the Department of Defense isn't sure what the mission is here'. 'Los Angeles is no stranger to demonstrations and protests and rallies and marches,' Padilla added. 'Local law enforcement knows how to handle this and has a rapport with the community and community leaders to be able to allow for that.' The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, signaled support on his personal X account for deploying troops to California. 'Due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings, approximately 700 active-duty US Marines from Camp Pendleton are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order,' he posted on X. 'We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers – even if Gavin Newsom will not.' Hegseth will testify on Tuesday along with the joint chiefs of staff chair, Gen Dan Caine, before the House appropriations subcommittee on defense. The meeting is focused on the nearly $1tn budget request for 2026, but Democrats are likely to question the defence secretary on the controversial move to deploy national guard and marines to LA.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to know about Trump's deployment of the Marines and National Guard to LA's immigration protests
Marines and additional National Guard troops were headed to Los Angeles on Tuesday, sent in by President Donald Trump in response to protests over immigration raids despite the objections of the governor and local leaders. The authorization came amid mostly peaceful protests in country's second-largest city on Monday. California officials sued Trump on Monday to roll back the administration's National Guard deployment, saying the president trampled on the state's sovereignty. Local officials and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom don't want the military deployed in the city, and the police chief said it creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests. The 2,000 Guard members authorized Monday are an addition to the 2,100 the president mobilized for the protests Sunday. Trump has also deployed 700 Marines to help them. Trump, a Republican, said in a social media post that the city would have been 'completely obliterated' if he hadn't sent Guard members. This appears to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor. Here are some things to know about the lawsuit, the protests and the troop deployments: State sues the president over troops California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops following the first deployment, telling reporters Monday that Trump had 'trampled' the state's sovereignty. 'We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops,' Bonta said. He sought a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. Bonta has said the lawsuit became necessary once Trump escalated the number of troops, leading to growing unrest. Newsom vs. Trump Trump and his border czar, Tom Holman, traded taunts with Newsom about the possibility of arresting the governor if he interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts. 'I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great,' Trump said. Newsom responded in a post on X: 'The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.' Newsom has called the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both 'illegal and immoral.' On X, he called the decision to deploy the additional National Guard troops reckless and 'disrespectful to our troops.' 'This isn't about public safety. It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego,' said Newsom. In a post Monday evening, Newsom called the deployment of Marines 'a blatant abuse of power' and said officials would sue to stop it. 'U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country — defending democracy. They are not political pawns,' Newsom posted on social media. 'The Courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling.' What's the mood in Los Angeles? A large crowd gathered Monday in a park across from City Hall to protest the arrest of prominent labor leader David Huerta, whose detainment Friday while protesting immigration raids became a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. Huerta was later released on $50,000 bond. Monday's demonstrations were less raucous than Sunday's, with thousands peacefully attending the rally at City Hall and hundreds protesting outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held. The protests have been driven by anger over Trump's stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws that critics say are tearing apart migrant families. Demonstrations have also been happening in other cities, including in Chicago and inside Trump Tower in Manhattan. More than a dozen were planned in all. On Los Angeles Street, a major thoroughfare that runs through the city's downtown, the smell of fire hung as workers swept debris among the charred remnants of cars that were set ablaze during the protests. Police cars blocked streets as crews painted over graffiti scrawled on surrounding buildings. An Australian television reporter was struck in the leg by a nonlethal round Sunday while reporting live, and a British photographer remained hospitalized Monday after undergoing surgery for a similar strike to the thigh Saturday at a protest in Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed in a news release on Monday that it used tear gas and more than 600 rubber bullets and other 'less than lethal' munitions on protesters over the weekend. Police arrested 29 people Saturday night 'for failure to disperse' and made 21 more arrests on Sunday on charges ranging from attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail and assault on a police officer to looting. Five officers had minor injuries, police said. Perla Rios, an indigenous community leader in Los Angeles, stood outside of Ambiance Apparel on Monday, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on Friday triggered protests. Rios urged legal representation and due process for immigrants who were detained by federal agents. 'What our families are experiencing is simply a nightmare,' Rios said. Behind her, relatives of the detained of workers held up signs saying, 'Immigrants make America Great" and 'We want justice,' next to photos of their loved ones. What's behind the demonstrations? The protests were sparked by Trump's immigration crackdown in the region. They started Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading on Saturday to Paramount and neighboring Compton. Federal agents arrested immigrants in LA's fashion district, in a Home Depot parking lot and at several other locations on Friday. The next day, they were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, which drew out protesters who suspected another raid. Federal authorities later said there was no enforcement activity at that Home Depot. Demonstrators attempted to block Border Patrol vehicles by hurling rocks and chunks of cement. In response, agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls. The weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the LA area climbed above 100, federal authorities said. Many have also been arrested while protesting. ___ Associated Press reporters Michael Casey in Boston, Lolita Baldor in Washington, Jesse Bedayn in Denver, Jake Offenhartz in New York, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
