Sir Keir Starmer said securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was "essential" to deter Vladimir Putin from future aggression.
01:03
THE
HEAR
This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 17.02.2025.
It displays 104 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.
17.02.2025 ⇢ The Dance of Peace Without Europe
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British leaders joined Europe's emergency response to US-Russia peace talks, with Starmer and the PM pledging British peacekeeping troops for Ukraine. The morning saw Russia explicitly rejecting European participation in Saudi negotiations, while Poland's Tusk declared refusal to send troops.
By afternoon, Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would not accept any deal made without its involvement. The Paris summit revealed deep divisions, with Germany's Scholz attempting to bridge the US-Europe gap. Evening brought Starmer's pivot to demanding US security guarantees as a "backstop" for any peace arrangement, marking a shift from morning's independent European posturing to acceptance of US leadership.
The media focus remained on diplomatic maneuvering, showing progression from previous days' European exclusion from peace talks to attempted assertion of relevance through military commitments, ending with acknowledgment of US primacy.
17.02.2025
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06:56
BBC
Starmer 'ready' to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as Europe holds emergency talks
European leaders are meeting in Paris today to discuss Ukraine and defence policy, a day before US-Russia talks begin in Saudi.
06:56
06:56
07:12
07:22⇢Starmer Volunteers British Boots for Ukraine
⌨The newspapers extensively cover Labour leader Starmer's statement about readiness to deploy British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine (BBC, Independent, Spectator), coinciding with European emergency talks in Paris ahead of US-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia (BBC, Sky). The BAFTAs ceremony results show Wallace & Gromit and 'Conclave' as major winners (Sun, Mirror). A new crime map of England and Wales draws attention to violent hotspots (Daily Mail).
07:30
STARMER: READY TO PUT UK TROOPS IN UKRAINE
07:30
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07:44
08:05
Breitbart UK
Diplomat once known for laughing at Trump’s warning on Germany’s dependence on Russian energy was unable to finish speech rejecting JD Vance.
08:05
08:16
The Guardian
UK ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if peace deal reached
08:16
08:16
New Statesman
From Trump's Ukraine proposals to JD Vance's Munich speech, it's clear that the US wants to rule like an empire.
08:16
08:40
The Guardian
European leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine’s future
08:40
08:40
09:18
'SCREAMING & CRYING' | UK News
09:18
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11:20
BBC
Europe holds Ukraine summit in Paris as Russia heads to Saudi for talks with US
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss possible Ukraine peace talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh.
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11:54
BBC
Russia says no role for Europe in Ukraine peace talks, as European leaders meet in Paris
"I don't know what they would be doing at the negotiating table," says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
11:54
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12:12
The Guardian
Poland will not send troops to Ukraine, says Donald Tusk
12:12
12:12
PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned off making “ludicrous long-term commitments” that prolong the war in Ukraine ahead of an emergency
12:12
12:14⇢Russia Slams Europe's Peace Door
⌨The newspapers report extensively on Russia's rejection of European involvement in Ukraine peace talks (BBC, New Statesman), while Labour leader Starmer pledges to send British peacekeepers to Ukraine (HuffPost, Independent). Poland explicitly refuses to send troops (Guardian), and peace activists warn against prolonging the conflict (Morning Star). The Munich Security Conference highlights growing US-Europe tensions, with particular attention to JD Vance's controversial speech (Breitbart, Spectator).
12:59
CBS’s Margaret Brennan has offered the most absurd argument yet for Europe’s illiberal hate-speech laws.
12:59
12:59
Starmer declared willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine “in harm’s way” to deter Russian aggression.
12:59
12:59
VALENTINE'S HORROR | UK News
12:59
13:00
The Guardian
Ukraine will not accept US-Russia talks outcome if it is not involved, says Zelenskyy
13:00
13:00
The Guardian
Ukraine will not accept US-Russia talks outcome if it is not involved, says Zelenskyy
13:00
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13:22
The Guardian
Ukraine will not accept US-Russia talks outcome if it is not involved, says Zelenskyy, as EU leaders meet for summit
13:22
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13:22
NO-GO TOWN | UK News
13:22
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14:31
The Guardian
Ukraine will not accept a Saudi-talks peace deal, says Zelenskyy
14:31
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14:47
The Guardian
Europe at ‘turning point’ as leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine crisis
14:47
14:55
The Spectator
14:55
14:59
BBC
Europe's Ukraine summit begins in Paris as Poland calls for immediate defence spend rise
Poland's PM said if Europe fails "to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more" during war.
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15:00⇢Paris Summit Tests Europe's War Nerve
⌨The newspapers extensively cover European leaders' emergency summit in Paris on Ukraine (BBC, Guardian, HuffPost), with Poland calling for immediate defense spending increase. Starmer's statement about deploying British troops draws mixed reactions (Breitbart, Morning Star, Spectator opposing). Parallel US-Russia talks are set to discuss Ukraine's future (Independent, Sky), highlighting Europe's struggle to maintain influence in peace negotiations.
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'WONDERFUL' WOMAN | UK News
15:43
15:51
16:07
The victim of a shooting in Knockholt is named by police as 43-year-old Lisa Smith from Slough.
16:07
16:15
BBC
Europe's Ukraine summit begins in Paris as Poland calls for immediate defence spend rise
Poland's PM said if Europe fails "to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more" during war.
16:15
16:15
Cops reissued a mugshot of a female Islamist to cover her face and hair behind a burqa.
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16:23
With the USA no longer seeing itself as a military defender of Europe, this is a most critical moment in European history.
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17:19
BBC
European leaders meeting at Ukraine summit as Poland calls for immediate defence spend rise
Poland's PM said if Europe fails "to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more" during war.
17:19
17:19
17:35
BBC
European leaders meet at Ukraine summit as Poland calls for immediate defence spend rise
Poland's PM said if Europe fails "to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more" during war.
17:35
17:35
The Guardian
Europe must continue to support Ukraine and not impose orders on it, Scholz says after Paris summit
17:35
17:36
Europe must not become numb to this barbarism.
17:36
17:37⇢Europe Locked Out of Peace Room
⌨The newspapers extensively cover Europe's exclusion from US-Russia peace talks (Sky, Channel 4), with Poland calling for immediate defense spending increases (BBC). At the Paris summit, Scholz emphasizes continued Ukraine support (Guardian), while Starmer joins amid Zelensky's reported frustration (Independent). A significant shift in US-Europe defense relations emerges, with Channel 4 noting this as the most decisive moment since the Cold War's end.
17:59
“He who saves his Country does not violate any law,” Trump posted over the weekend.
17:59
17:59
The Guardian
Europe and US must not be divided over plan for peace in Ukraine, Scholz says after emergency summit
17:59
18:07
BBC
There should be no split between Europe and US on protecting Ukraine, Scholz says
The German chancellor says after meeting European leaders that any debate on sending peacekeepers to Ukraine is "premature".
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18:32
THE geopolitics of Europe are moving. The least we should demand of our elected representatives in Parliament is a frank discussion of that.
18:32
18:39
The Guardian
Europe and US must not be divided over plan for peace in Ukraine, Scholz says
18:39
18:55
HuffPost UK
Meanwhile... Putin Rep Wants The Continent Out Of Peace Talks
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19:03
The Guardian
Europe and US must not be divided over Ukraine, Scholz says, as Tusk says relationship is at ‘new stage’
19:03
19:11
The Guardian
No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, Poland’s Tusk insists, as Germany says Europe and US must not be split
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19:27
BBC
Starmer says ‘there must be a US backstop’ for any Ukraine peace deal
The prime minister says a "US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again".
19:27
19:27
The Guardian
US must provide ‘backstop’ to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again, Starmer says after emergency Paris summit
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19:28
19:37⇢Starmer Demands US Shield for Ukraine
⌨The newspapers heavily focus on Starmer's call for US security guarantees for Ukraine (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Sky, HuffPost, Mirror). This marks a shift from previous discussions of European exclusion, with Starmer specifically demanding a "US backstop" as the only effective deterrent against future Russian aggression. The Morning Star raises concerns about Starmer's suggestion of British troop deployment, while Putin's representatives continue pushing for Europe's exclusion from peace negotiations (HuffPost).
19:43
Monday’s meeting in Paris appears to have validated the Trump administration’s reluctance to include European leaders in Ukraine peace talks as deep divides remain on Europe’s role in the peace process.
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20:15
Sir Keir Starmer says the UK and Europe need to step up their capability on Ukraine, warning of a “generational challenge”.
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20:56
ISLE BE THERE | Love Island
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PLANE HORROR | US News
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The PM says "a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again".
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The Jewish Chronicle
21:31
21:33⇢Paris Summit Sputters While Plane Flips
⌨The newspapers heavily cover an emergency summit in Paris on Ukraine, where European leaders failed to reach consensus on troop deployment (Breitbart, Channel 4). Starmer emphasizes the need for US security guarantees as the only deterrent against Russia (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Sky). Breaking news emerges of a Delta plane crash in Toronto with approximately 80 people aboard, with survivors reportedly walking away (Daily Mail, Metro, Mirror, Sun).
21:52
BBC
Three critically injured as plane flips over on landing in Toronto
All passengers and crew are accounted for after the crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
21:52
22:00
BBC
Plane flips over on landing in Toronto, leaving three critically injured
All passengers and crew are accounted for after the crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
22:00
22:08
The Guardian
Trump urged to provide ‘backstop’ for European peacekeeping force at Ukraine summit
22:08
22:24
The Guardian
US ‘backstop’ vital to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Starmer
22:24
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23:17
World | Katie Boyden
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