THE
HEAR
This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 18.02.2025.
It displays 94 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.
18.02.2025 ⇢ Dance in Riyadh Without Ukraine
⌨
The morning opened with US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, marking their first face-to-face meeting since Russia's invasion. Putin signaled readiness to speak with Zelensky "if necessary," while Lavrov met with Rubio.
By midday, both sides reported "positive" discussions, agreeing to appoint negotiating teams. Russia made clear its rejection of NATO troops in Ukraine "even under other flags" - a direct response to Starmer's peacekeeping proposal from yesterday. Zelensky canceled his Saudi trip in protest of being excluded from talks.
Evening brought news of Trump expressing confidence in a peace deal, while Zelensky demanded Kyiv's involvement in negotiations. The progression showed Russia leveraging European divisions exposed at yesterday's Paris summit, while the US maintained its position as primary negotiator despite European attempts to assert relevance through military commitments.
18.02.2025
00:00
00:00
PLANE HORROR | US News
00:00
00:08
00:16
00:16
PLANE HORROR | US News
00:16
02:16
DO THE WOKEY COKEY | Politics
02:16
02:18⇢Upside Down Miracle in Toronto
⌨The newspapers extensively cover a Delta plane crash in Toronto where all 80 passengers survived despite the aircraft landing upside down (BBC, Daily Mail, Metro, Mirror). Meanwhile, European divisions over Ukraine strategy deepen, with Starmer emphasizing the necessity of US security guarantees as deterrent against Russia (Guardian, Independent, Sky). The Sun reports on government spending controversies regarding social projects.
06:29
BBC
US and Russia to begin talks aimed at ending Ukraine war
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about peace - but Ukraine has not been invited.
06:29
06:29
BBC
US and Russia to begin talks aimed at ending Ukraine war
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about peace - but Ukraine has not been invited.
06:29
06:29
BBC
US and Russia to begin talks aimed at ending Ukraine war
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about peace - but Ukraine has not been invited.
06:29
06:35
06:37
The Spectator
06:37
06:37
The British military is barely able to defend the UK, let alone Ukraine.
06:37
06:41
EXTERMINATE? | News TV
06:41
06:56
World | Katie Boyden
06:56
06:57
07:18
The Guardian
Ukraine war: Russian and US officials meet in Saudi Arabia for peace talks, without Kyiv
07:18
07:18
'US BACKSTOP NEEDED FOR UKRAINE PEACE'
07:18
07:20⇢Ukraine Watches US-Russia Dance in Riyadh
⌨The newspapers extensively cover US-Russia peace talks beginning in Saudi Arabia, notably without Ukraine's participation (BBC, Guardian, HuffPost). European divisions deepen as Scholz criticizes Starmer's Ukraine troop commitment during a crisis summit (Daily Mail, Independent). The development marks a significant shift from the Paris summit, with Starmer calling for US security guarantees as a prerequisite for peace (HuffPost, Spiked).
08:01
BBC
US and Russia begin talks aimed at ending Ukraine war
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about peace - but Ukraine has not been invited.
08:01
08:01
08:01
08:02
UK | Sarah Hooper
08:02
08:02
08:04
New Statesman
Lazy “tough on crime” rhetoric has led to a crisis of overcrowding.
08:04
08:54
08:54
09:07
'IT'S TIME TO SHARE' | Royals
09:07
09:22
09:23
'IT'S TIME TO SHARE' | Royals
09:23
09:44
09:45
The Jewish Chronicle
09:45
10:13
World | Katie Boyden
10:13
10:14
10:31
BBC
Putin ready to speak to Zelensky 'if necessary', Kremlin says as US and Russia hold talks
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about peace - but Ukraine has not been invited.
10:31
10:31
RUNWAY INFERNO | US News
10:31
10:42
Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov meet for talks on Ukraine, but even before sitting down Russia demonstrated its hard bargaining mindset.
10:42
10:44⇢Russia Meets US While Europe Waits Outside
⌨The newspapers focus on US-Russia peace talks beginning in Saudi Arabia, with Putin expressing readiness to speak with Zelensky "if necessary" (BBC, Guardian, Independent). Russia signals no territorial concessions as Rubio and Lavrov meet (Breitbart), while Europe's exclusion from talks causes concern, particularly in Germany (Daily Mail). A significant Delta plane crash in Toronto ends with all passengers surviving despite the aircraft flipping (Metro, Sun).
11:46
11:47
INTO PUTIN'S HANDS | World News
11:47
12:37
BBC
Russia says talks with US on Ukraine were 'positive' after four-hour meeting
"A very positive, constructive dialogue has begun," a Russian delegate says after the high-level meeting in Riyadh.
12:37
12:37
12:37
The Guardian
Ukraine war: Russia-US talks ‘went well’ with early discussions on Ukraine, says Russian adviser
12:37
12:37
13:19
The Guardian
Ukraine peace talks must mean permanent end to war and be acceptable to all sides, US says after Russia meeting
13:19
13:19
World | Sarah Hooper
13:19
13:19
13:19
Spiked
Apply now to become a spiked intern
13:19
13:19
TYRANT'S WISH LIST | World News
13:19
13:56
BBC
US and Russia will appoint teams to negotiate ending Ukraine war, US says after talks
"A very positive, constructive dialogue has begun," a Russian delegate says after the high-level meeting in Riyadh.
13:56
13:56
World | Sarah Hooper
13:56
13:56
13:56
TYRANT'S WISH LIST | World News
13:56
13:58⇢Peace Teams Emerge from Riyadh
⌨The newspapers report on US-Russia peace talks progressing in Riyadh, with both sides agreeing to appoint negotiating teams (BBC, Guardian, Independent). Russia signals positive dialogue while US emphasizes need for permanent solution (BBC, Guardian). Meanwhile, a British couple faces espionage charges in Iran (Metro, Sky), and Strictly's Amy Dowden receives MBE for Crohn's disease awareness (Mirror).
16:13
Breitbart UK
Russia praised first round of Ukraine talks, with U.S. delegation saying both sides committed to work towards in-person Presidential meeting.
16:13
16:13
BBC
Russia won't accept Nato troops in Ukraine as part of any peace deal, says Lavrov
Russia's foreign minister was speaking after talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia.
16:13
16:13
16:13
The Guardian
US and Russia to explore closer relations after Ukraine talks in Riyadh
16:13
16:13
16:13
HuffPost UK
Minister Reminds US Of Afghanistan 'Mistakes' As Ukraine Excluded From Russia Talks
16:13
16:13
UK | Katie Boyden
16:13
16:13
New Statesman
The continent’s future depends on outflanking America. British troops in Ukraine is the first step.
16:13
16:13
16:13
The Spectator
16:13
16:13
Breaking | Live
16:13
16:13
'MURDER-SUICIDE' PROBE | UK News
16:13
16:45
16:45
17:00
17:01
The Jewish Chronicle
17:01
17:09
Canadians are sick of Justin Trudeau, but the opposition needs to be bolder and more populist.
17:09
17:50
17:50
Watch Tom Slater’s speech at the Cambridge Union.
17:50
17:50
17:50
The meeting was the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Russian and American delegations are known to have met face-to-face.
17:50
17:50
Channel 4
What’s the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, is it any closer to ending and what do different countries want from a potential peace deal? FactCheck speaks to experts to find out.
17:50
17:52⇢Zelensky Spurns Saudi Talks
⌨The newspapers report on US-Russia peace talks in Riyadh, marking their first face-to-face meeting since Russia's invasion (BBC, Breitbart). Zelensky cancels his Saudi trip, protesting negotiations held without Ukraine's presence (Sky, HuffPost). Meanwhile, Russia's Lavrov firmly states NATO troops won't be accepted in Ukraine (BBC), while both sides agree to work towards a Trump-Putin meeting (Breitbart, Guardian, Independent).
17:58
The Jewish Chronicle
17:58
17:58
The hatred of Israel has become dangerously mainstream.
17:58
18:10
18:14
Customers will bear brunt of sky-high interest rates though increased bills, campaigners warn
18:14
20:54
After three years of being left out in the cold following the invasion of Ukraine, today the Russians were back at the table, the meeting with a US delegation in Riyadh went on for more than four hours.
20:54
20:54
The Guardian
US and Russia agree to explore mutual opportunities of end to Ukraine war
20:54
20:54
20:54
STAR GONE | Showbiz
20:54
21:39
Sky News
Breaking | Live
21:39
21:47
21:55
DAMNING FAILURES | UK News
21:55
22:11
22:13⇢Lavrov Slams Door on NATO Masks
⌨The newspapers report on US-Russia peace talks in Riyadh extending beyond four hours (Channel 4, Guardian), with Trump expressing confidence in a deal (Sky). Russia's Lavrov rejects Starmer's peacekeeping proposals, specifically opposing NATO troops under alternative flags (Daily Mail). Zelensky demands Ukraine's inclusion in negotiations (Independent). Six Hamas hostages are set for release (Jewish Chronicle), while Thames Water receives a controversial £3bn emergency loan (Morning Star).
22:19
The Independent
22:19