Russia’s Lavrov Says No Point in Inviting European Leaders to Ukraine Talks

That there is direct contact between the Americans and the Russians is not a bad thing if it is about finding a way to a durable and lasting peace,

said a foreign ministry spokesman in Berlin

I don't know what they would do at the negotiating table... if they are going to sit at the negotiating table with the aim of continuing war, then why invite them there?,

Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow

We have to make sure that Europe overcomes the challenges of the future in a strong and sovereign manner and with its back straight,

Scholz told reporters on the sidelines of an election campaign event in Kassel, ahead of his departure for the French capital

I am certain that we will be able to develop a clear position,

Scholz said

If the framework is given, Germany will not shy away,

a defence ministry spokesperson told a press conference in Berlin on the issue of ground troops

This will be a great task for Europe, for the U.S. and international alliance partners,

the German leader said,

Donald Trumppresident

U.S. support will remain critical and a U.S. security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace, because only the U.S. can deter Putin from attacking again,

Starmer wrote in Monday's Daily Telegraph

This is not Europe that commands respect abroad. This is not the Europe that would be a serious partner to the North American ally,

she said

Those are details, and I’m not dismissive of the details, they’re important. But I think the beginning here is trust-building. It’s getting everybody to understand that this war does not belong continuing, that it should end. That’s what the president has directed us to do,

Witkoff told Fox News on Sunday

I don't know what countries are supposed to do at talks on Ukraine."

Russia's Lavrov, meanwhile, weighed in on the confusion Monday, saying

What we don't want to do is get into a large group discussion,

he told a fringe event in Munich, noting

People weren’t ready to accept it at the time, its feminism,

says Clément

It risks the worst of all possible worlds: a kind of stagflation,

said Stiglitz, a Columbia University professor and former World Bank economist

However, if the war were to become ‘frozen’ and Russia no longer had to suffer significant losses during the active hostilities in Ukraine, Moscow would be able to increase its military presence next to the NATO’s northeastern flank, including the Baltics, within the next five years,

the report warns

Russia is likely to be more willing to use military force in a regional war against one or more European NATO countries if it perceives NATO as militarily weakened or politically divided,

it said

Labour stated in its manifesto a commitment to set a path to 2.5 per cent and that remains the policy of the Government.

A government source said

Unless Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves can find ways of producing more money, well beyond 2.5 per cent towards 3 per cent or 3.5 per cent for starters, then this Strategic Defence Review is going to be hollow, it's going to be a failure and, frankly, it'll consign Keir Starmer to the bin of history.

Lord Dannatt said

Well, as I say, we came into government with a clear commitment to get up to 2.5 per cent and we're having to do that alongside grappling with a wide range of challenges

Asked if the pressure was on to go beyond 2.5 per cent, he said

Frankly, we haven't got the numbers and we haven't got the equipment to put a large force onto the ground for an extended period of time at the present moment.

Lord Dannatt later went on

These crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent

Sir Keir said