Recognising Palestine is why Starmer and Macron will be ignored on Ukraine
It is simply that, when it comes to the big geopolitical decisions affecting the future security of the continent, today's generation of European leaders cannot be trusted to make the right call.
The last time the world's major powers met to carve up Europe's borders, at the Potsdam Conference at the end of the Second World War, Britain was guaranteed a seat at the top table by virtue of the statesmanlike leadership qualities Winston Churchill had displayed throughout the conflict.
Back then Europe's fate was to be decided by the so-called 'Big Three', the US, Britain and Russia. Now the Big Three are the US, Russia and China – the UK barely meriting a mention.
The notion that Sir Keir Starmer, or any other European leader, might have any useful contribution to make at the Alaska summit is almost risible given their recent conduct on the other pressing security issue of the day: ending the appalling conflict in Gaza.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has made it clear that his two main foreign policy objectives are to end the conflicts in both Ukraine and Gaza. While his efforts regarding Ukraine have so far been stymied by Putin's lack of interest in a ceasefire, the Trump administration has worked hard to formulate a workable ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
Indeed, by early July, Washington was indicating that Israel had broadly accepted the terms of the 60-day ceasefire deal, with the final decision on whether it would go ahead or not left in the hands of Hamas. It was torpedoed after the organisation's terrorist leadership announced that it would not accept the ceasefire until a Palestinian state had been created and recognised.
A key factor in Hamas's rejection of the ceasefire deal appears to have been the decision by Starmer, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, to announce their intention to recognise a Palestinian state at next month's annual UN General Assembly in New York. This is despite the fact that no such Palestinian state actually exists.
To add insult to injury, Hamas officials publicly praised the British and French leaders for declaring their intention to recognise a Palestinian state, with the terrorist organisation hailing the decision as 'one of the fruits of October 7'.
Not surprisingly, the grandstanding exploits of Starmer and Macron, which were taken more to embarrass Israel than make any positive contribution to the plight of ordinary Palestinians, have not gone down well in Washington. Even Trump remarked that Starmer's plan to grant recognition meant 'rewarding Hamas'.
The Trump administration has blamed the collapse of July's ceasefire talks, and Hamas's decision to reject the ceasefire terms, directly on Macron's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood. Talks with Hamas 'fell apart on the day Macron made the unilateral decision that he's going to recognise the Palestinian state,' said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Starmer's subsequent decision to follow Macron's lead in planning to recognise Palestine only made matters worse for Washington in terms of arranging a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
In such circumstances it is hardly surprising that the Trump administration has little appetite for including the likes of Starmer and Macron in key discussions relating to the future of Europe's security when he meets with Putin in Alaska.
Instead, the Europeans, in the form of Starmer's so-called 'coalition of the willing', have been relegated to the periphery of the negotiations, with Trump agreeing to hold video conferences with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his summit with Putin.
Whether the American president will take on board anything Starmer has to contribute to the discussion is another matter. To date, Starmer's most notable contribution to the Ukraine debate has been to float the notion of establishing some form of European security force to protect Ukraine's borders once a ceasefire takes hold.
Starmer has even talked of deploying 'boots on the ground', although this proposition has been quietly dropped after it was pointed out to the Prime Minister that the parlous state of our Armed Forces meant the UK's contribution would be minimal.
The other big disconnect between Starmer and Trump is that the US leader is playing for far higher stakes than simply ending hostilities in Ukraine. Trump's primary goal is to forge closer ties with Moscow in a bid to weaken Russia's strategic partnership with China, a country that Washington regards as posing a far greater threat to America's long-term security than Russia.
So when Starmer warns Trump, as he did earlier this week, that Putin cannot be trusted, the American president will politely note the Prime Minister's concerns, and then act in a way that suits his own interests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Zelensky says giving up land for peace could be 'impossible' as Trump rages at 'fake news' over his showdown with Putin - as Europe's leaders head to the White House
Volodymyr Zelensky has said giving up land for peace in a future agreement with Russia could be 'impossible'. Speaking in Brussels today, the Ukrainian president insisted that his country's constitution made it 'impossible to give up territory or trade land'. But he went on to say: 'Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral meeting.' 'We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,' Zelensky said, adding that European leaders supported this. It comes as US president Donald Trump appears poised to urge the Ukrainian leader to agree to a Russian land grab of his country's territory. Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk - two occupied Ukrainian regions - as a condition for ending the war. Zelensky was speaking ahead of a virtual meeting with European leaders and before he travels to Washington to meet with Donald Trump following the US leader's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. He reiterated his position that it was necessary to establish a ceasefire in order to then negotiate a final deal. Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk - two occupied Ukrainian regions - as a condition for ending the war when he met Trump on Friday 'It's important that Washington is with us,' the Ukrainian leader said. He will be accompanied by several European allies, including Keir Starmer, for Monday's talks with Trump. Zelensky said that Ukraine did not yet know all the demands made by Putin at the meeting with Trump on Friday, adding that it would take a long time to go over them - and that this was not possible under 'the pressure of weapons'. Meanwhile, the world is still reeling from Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he rolled out the red carpet for the war-mongering tyrant. Most international commentators believe the negotiations were a win for Putin, with the media noticing he appeared energetic and satisfied by how the summit had gone. Trump, on the other hand, appeared uncharacteristically deflated and seemed disheartened that the famed deal-maker was not able to get an agreement together. But the US President has hit back at his critics, posting on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday morning: 'It's incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me. 'There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me. I had a great meeting in Alaska on Biden's stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!' Only minutes later, he posted: 'If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands after a joint press conference following the US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday 'That's why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.' It comes as Trump envoy Steve Witkoff gave an interview with CNN where he discussed the issue of territory - and specifically of the five regions he described as always having been the 'crux of the deal'. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 while the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson were annexed after referendums internationally viewed as shams in 2022. 'The Russians made some concessions at the table with regard to all five of those regions,' Witkoff said today. He added that the Donetsk region constitutes an 'important discussion' - and one which he said will happen tomorrow. The Donbas is predominantly Russian-speaking, and after Russia snatched Crimea in 2014, its proxy forces have gained a foothold there in a long-running war. Zelensky, who has rejected Putin's demands that Kyiv withdraw from the remaining 30 per cent of Donetsk that it still controls, played down the Russian advances, saying on X that his forces were 'countering' and 'increasing the pressure' on the 'occupier'. 'The Russian army continues to suffer significant losses in its attempts to secure more favourable political positions for the Russian leadership at the meeting in Alaska. We understand this plan and are informing our partners about the real situation,' he said. Zelensky's statement comes as negotiations to end the war continue to mount. Sir Keir Starmer, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington tomorrow for peace talks at the White House. Ms Von der Leyen said 'at the request of President Zelensky, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow.' Other European leaders confirming they will go tomorrow included Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Mr Zelensky's Oval Office rendezvous follows Western allies holding a 'coalition of the willing' video call at 2pm earlier today, hosted by Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Merz. Mr Trump is said to be inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelensky about it when they meet in the Oval Office. The European leaders may also fear a repeat of Mr Zelensky's last visit to the White House at the end of February. The tumultuous spat resulted in a souring of relations between the US and Ukraine, including a temporary cut off of American aid for the war effort. Downing Street insisted Sir Keir and other allies stand ready to support the next phase of talks to end the war. A statement from No 10 said: 'At the meeting that will take place at the White House tomorrow, the Prime Minister, with other European partners, stands ready to support this next phase of further talks and will reaffirm that his backing for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.' Yesterday, Sir Keir commended Mr Trump for bringing the conflict 'closer than ever' to an end. Mr Trump appeared to change his position on how to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the Russian president on Friday. Following the Alaska summit, the American leader suggested he wants to move straight to a full peace deal, rather than negotiating a ceasefire first. The shift appears to echo the Russians' refusal to agree to ceasefire before engaging in peace talks. Meanwhile Zelensky on Sunday rejected the idea of Russia offering his country security guarantees, after US and EU officials promoted the possibility. White House envoy Steve Witkoff earlier said Trump and his Russian counterpart Putin agreed to 'robust security guarantees' for Ukraine during a meeting in Alaska on Friday. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday hailed the proposal as an offer of NATO-style security guarantees from the United States. 'We welcome President Trump's willingness to contribute to (NATO) Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine, and the coalition of the willing, including the European Union, is ready to do its share,' von der Leyen said. Zelensky also welcomed the idea of US security guarantees - but was less positive about Russia's intentions. 'What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin's thoughts, because Putin will not give any security guarantees,' he told a press conference in Brussels alongside von der Leyen. 'Security means a strong army, which only Ukraine can provide. I believe that only Europe can finance this army.' Von der Leyen and Zelensky also shared their thoughts on a possible meeting between Trump, Putin and the Ukrainian leader. 'So far, Russia gives no sign that the trilateral will happen and if Russia refuses, then new sanctions must follow,' Zelensky said.
Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Salmond's family accuse Sturgeon of cashing in on smears against him
Alex Salmond's family has accused Nicola Sturgeon of using her memoir to 'cash in' with personal attacks against him. Christina Hendry, who is the late former first minister's niece, said the claims Ms Sturgeon made about Mr Salmond in her newly-published book were 'cruel' and 'distasteful'. Ms Sturgeon used the memoir, Frankly, to allege that Salmond could have been behind a leak to a tabloid newspaper that he was under investigation for sexual misconduct. She argued that the 2018 leak, which revealed the Scottish government's investigation into the claims, would have been 'classic Alex' as it would have allowed him to control the media narrative and 'cast himself as the victim of underhand dealing'. Pouring scorn on his claim that there was a conspiracy to imprison him, she said it was 'a fabrication, the invention of a man who wasn't prepared to reflect honestly on his own conduct'. Ms Sturgeon said the alleged conspirators were 'women who considered themselves victims of his behaviour' and were 'seeking support and comfort from each other'. She accused Salmond of trying to 'distort and weaponise' genuine shock or trauma in a way that was 'truly disgraceful', adding 'it strikes at the heart of why I find it so hard to forgive him'. Salmond was cleared of 13 sexual assault charges in a separate criminal trial in 2020, but his lawyer admitted his client could 'have been a better man'. Among the book's other claims were that Salmond had not bothered to read the White Paper on independence produced for the 2014 referendum, which was the prospectus for Scotland leaving the UK. Ms Hendry accused Ms Sturgeon of 'cowardice', saying she would not have made the claims while her uncle was still alive and argued 'she is using his name for relevance, to promote her book, to earn money'. The 30-year-old also attacked Ms Sturgeon for having 'such disregard for the family and their feelings', including the impact on Moira, Salmond's widow. Salmond's family broke its silence on the memoir as it emerged Mrs Salmond is 'reactivating' legal action against the SNP government, which he started before he died aged 69 last October. The Sunday Mail reported that a KC, two junior counsel and a lead investigator have been appointed in the case, which centres on the Scottish Government's botched investigation into sexual misconduct claims against him. Salmond alleged there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures around Nicola Sturgeon to imprison him, which she has vigorously denied. At the time of his death the former first minister was seeking 'significant damages' and compensation for loss of earnings from the Scottish Government, totalling a reported £3 million. A family friend told the Sunday Mail: 'Her case against the Scottish Government is now live, the legal team is in place, the finance in place and this will be going ahead, no question of that. 'Alex may not be here to defend himself but his family are determined to stand up to those who continue to attack him.' 'An element of cowardice' Ms Hendry told the Scottish Sun on Sunday: 'She should not have to be going through this and neither should any of the family. I find it very distasteful. In some ways it is quite cruel. 'She is using his name for relevance, to promote her book, to earn money – she could have said these things in the past few years. 'She has chosen to wait until he is no longer here to defend himself. It's left to the family to deal with this and there's an element of cowardice to that.' Asked if she believed Ms Sturgeon was cashing in on her infamous fall-out with her uncle, Ms Hendry replied: 'Yes. I can't see any other reason. It seems quite a coincidence that the time she is saying this is the time she is selling her book.' Salmond won a judicial review in 2019 after a previous court case found that the way the Scottish Government investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against him was handled was unlawful and 'tainted with apparent bias'. The Scottish Government only conceded the case at the 11th hour, resulting in Mr Salmond being handed £512,250 of taxpayers' money to cover his legal costs. Ms Sturgeon declined to comment on either the family's complaints about her book or the renewed legal action. The Scottish Government was approached for a response.
Reuters
16 minutes ago
- Reuters
Global markets face shaky week ahead as US pressure mounts on Ukraine
LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Defence stocks and energy markets are likely to be in focus this week, as European leaders rushed to back Ukraine in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump that may pressure Kyiv to accept a peace deal favouring Russia. Investors are watching for signs that the U.S. may move closer to Russia in a bid to exploit vast, untapped Arctic energy resources, in a major geopolitical shift that piles pressure on Europe to rapidly boost defence spending. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their weekend summit in Alaska without securing a Ukraine ceasefire agreement, with the U.S. President then saying he now wanted a rapid peace deal that Kyiv should accept. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is travelling to Washington on Monday for talks that leaders of nations including Germany, the UK and France will now join. "Trump seems inclined to reduce or even end US support for Ukraine. Putin got him interested in business deals," Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding said in a note to clients. "As a result, the US may lift its sanctions on Russia and invest in Russia instead," he added. "Europe will have to spend a lot more for its own defence." Investors have bet on that outcome since February 2022, driving a supercharged rally in European aerospace and defence stocks (.SXPARO), opens new tab with gains of over 600% for Leonardo ( opens new tab and 1,500% for Germany's Rheinmetall ( opens new tab. The euro has rallied 13% against the dollar this year and traded at about $1.17 on Friday. Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett highlighted the potential for U.S.-Russia Arctic drilling projects to exploit 15% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas, resulting in a deep energy bear market. Brent crude, which dropped more than 1% to near $66 a barrel, on Friday, was still priced for a Ukraine peace deal, Hartnett cautioned, while Trump wanted lower energy prices for U.S. consumers . Ukraine's government bonds - key mood indicators - rallied when news of the summit emerged earlier this month but have stalled at a still-distressed 55 cents per dollar. "I would think they will be a bit weaker following the recent strength as the mood seems to favour Russia following Friday's summit," Aegon Asset Management head of emerging market debt Jeff Grills said.
