US president says Putin will accept a role for European troops
00:16
THE
HEAR
This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 25.02.2025.
It displays 139 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.
25.02.2025 ⇢ The Day Aid Paid For Arms
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Morning brought Trump's claims about Putin accepting European peacekeepers in Ukraine, promptly denied by the Kremlin. US alignment with Russia in UN votes sparked criticism of a "new axis of evil." NATO scrambled jets as Russian nuclear-capable bombers struck Ukraine while US B-52s patrolled Russian borders.
PM Starmer announced Britain's largest defense spending increase since the Cold War, raising it to 2.5% GDP by 2027, funded through foreign aid cuts. The move preceded his scheduled meeting with Trump, prompting accusations of following US pressure.
By evening, reports emerged of Ukraine agreeing to share mineral resources with the US, marking a significant shift from Zelensky's previous rejection of similar proposals. This development followed three days of mounting pressure from Washington and reflected growing Ukrainian isolation as European influence in peace negotiations diminished.
25.02.2025
00:16
01:18
The Guardian
Trump says Putin will accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine
01:18
01:51
UK | Sarah Hooper
01:51
02:33
04:16
The UK and France abstain as the UN Security Council passes a text that does not criticise Moscow.
04:16
04:16
The Guardian
Macron warns against ‘surrender’ in Ukraine as Trump claims Putin will accept peacekeeper deal
04:16
04:23
04:51
04:51
05:05
The Guardian
More than 160 Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid reports of torture
05:05
05:07⇢US Joins Moscow's Ukraine Resolution
⌨The newspapers report extensively on a significant shift in US position: joining Russia in passing a UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine that avoided criticism of Moscow (BBC, Independent). This follows Trump-Macron meetings marked by awkward exchanges (Daily Mail, Mirror) where Macron insisted ceasefire must not mean surrender (Sky News, Times). Separately, reports emerge of 160+ Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid torture allegations (Guardian).
06:01
A coalition of the centre-right and centre-left would represent the last gasp of the dire status quo.
06:01
06:07
Politics | Craig Munro
06:07
06:37
06:37
07:00
The Guardian
Macron warns against ‘surrender’ in Ukraine as Trump claims Putin will accept peacekeeper deal
07:00
07:00
The Spectator
07:00
07:08
07:31
BBC
Macron suggests Ukraine-Russia truce could be weeks away after talks with Trump
It comes after Zelensky tells European leaders his country needs security guarantees to prevent Russia invading again in years to come.
07:31
07:55
New Statesman
Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Nigel Farage knew Trump’s views on the war. So why did they back him nonetheless?
07:55
08:12
Breaking | Live
08:12
08:12
CRUNCH TALKS | World News
08:12
08:19
08:19
Politics | Craig Munro
08:19
08:27
08:35
The AfD’s voters are not going anywhere, even if their party is locked out of government.
08:35
08:44
The Guardian
All of Ukraine under air raid alert as Russian attacks continue; Macron says ceasefire could come in ‘weeks’
08:44
08:44
World | Tom Sanders
08:44
08:46⇢Macron's Peace Promise Meets American Rejection
⌨The newspapers report extensively on Macron's claim of potential Ukraine-Russia ceasefire within weeks following talks with Trump (BBC, Guardian, Independent). This comes as US joins Russia and North Korea in rejecting UN peace plan (Metro, HuffPost), prompting criticism from British commentators (New Statesman). Domestically, UK papers focus on new crime legislation package (Mirror) and rising energy costs (Sky News).
09:01
Breaking | Live
09:01
09:01
SICK & TWISTED | UK News
09:01
09:01
US president says Putin will accept a role for European troops
09:01
09:09
09:34
09:34
Breaking | Live
09:34
09:59
The Guardian
Putin offers to sell rare earth minerals to US, including from Russian-occupied Ukraine
09:59
10:15
BBC
Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away as Russia offers US access to minerals
The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:15
10:24
10:24
Breaking | Live
10:24
10:33
The best chance to see as many as possible will be after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
10:33
10:33
10:41
BBC
Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away as Russia offers US access to minerals
The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:41
10:41
10:41
The Jewish Chronicle
10:41
10:41
Putin would not accept a role for European troops, his spokesman said
10:41
10:43⇢Putin's Mineral Olive Branch
⌨The newspapers report on Russia's apparent mineral diplomacy: Putin offers US access to rare earth minerals, including from occupied Ukrainian territories (BBC, Guardian, Times), while military tensions escalate with NATO scrambling warplanes in response to Russian nuclear-capable bomber activity near Poland (Daily Mail, Metro). Macron suggests a Ukraine ceasefire possibility within weeks, though The Independent notes US alignment with Russia in UN votes, and Zelensky warns of Putin's further territorial ambitions (Mirror).
10:50
Breitbart UK
Hours after his party’s victory in Germany’s federal elections, likely incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz began to soften his stance on immigration as he looks to form a coalition with leftist parties rather than the anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany.
10:50
10:50
10:58
BBC
Russia offers US access to minerals as Macron says Ukraine truce could be weeks away
The Kremlin says it sees potential for co-operation with the US on developing Russia's reserves of rare earth minerals, including from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
10:58
10:58
11:07
CLASH IN THE SKIES | World News
11:07
11:15
11:40
The Guardian
Tusk hints at London summit on Sunday to discuss defence and security
11:40
11:40
HuffPost UK
Starmer Slammed As Energy Price Cap Rises Despite Labour Vow
11:40
11:48
12:12
BBC
Starmer to make defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine
The UK prime minister will address Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:12
12:20
12:28
BBC
Starmer about to make defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine
The UK prime minister will address Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:28
12:28
12:36
BBC
Starmer making defence statement ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine
The UK prime minister is addressing Parliament before travelling to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
12:36
12:36
The Guardian
UK PM planning big cuts to aid budget to boost defence spending, say sources
12:36
12:36
12:45
BBC
Starmer commits to raising UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027
The prime minister says "tyrants like Putin only respond to strength" and the UK must stand by Ukraine.
12:45
12:45
12:45
12:45
12:46⇢Starmer's Defence Billions Before Trump Summit
⌨The newspapers report heavily on PM Starmer's announcement to raise UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Mirror), reportedly funded through aid budget cuts (Guardian). This comes ahead of crucial talks with Trump (Sky News, Independent). Meanwhile, NATO scrambles warplanes as Russian nuclear-capable bombers strike Ukraine while US B-52s patrol Russian borders (The Sun, Daily Mail, Metro).
12:53
The Guardian
UK to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, Keir Starmer announces
12:53
12:53
Breaking | Live
12:53
12:53
12:53
12:53
DEFENCE BOOST | Politics
12:53
13:01
BBC
UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, funded by cut in international aid
The PM says the budget for overseas aid will be cut from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% by 2027 to fund increased defence spending.
13:01
13:01
The Guardian
UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 with aid budget slashed to help fund move
13:01
13:09
The Independent
13:09
13:09
STARMER SLASHES FOREIGN AID TO FUND DEFENCE
13:09
13:09
13:17
STARMER SLASHES FOREIGN AID TO FUND DEFENCE
13:17
13:25
STARMER SLASHES FOREIGN AID TO FUND DEFENCE
13:25
13:50
13:50
13:58
14:14
The Spectator
14:14
14:16⇢Starmer's Defence Billions at Aid's Expense
⌨The newspapers extensively report on Labour's significant defence policy announcement: PM Starmer plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 (BBC, Guardian, Independent, Mirror, Sun), funded by cutting international aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI (BBC, Daily Mail). This comes ahead of Starmer's meeting with Trump (Daily Mail, Mirror), with defence boost framed as response to Russian threats (Independent, Mirror).
14:22
France went straight from agreeing peacekeepers with President Trump to floating an Anglo-French deployment of nuclear weapons to Germany.
14:22
14:22
14:31
DEFENCE BOOST | Politics
14:31
14:49
DEFENCE BOOST | Politics
14:49
14:57
15:05
The Spectator
15:05
15:22
15:22
UK | Sam Corbishley
15:22
15:30
STARMER SLASHES FOREIGN AID TO FUND DEFENCE
15:30
15:30
'VILE EXCUSE' | UK News
15:30
15:30
Energy bills could be sent into the stratosphere by the EU’s crippling climate rules.
15:30
15:46
15:46
STARMER SLAMMED FOR SLASHING FOREIGN AID
15:46
15:47
Sky News
Breaking | Live
15:47
15:55
The Guardian
Kremlin disputes Trump claim Russia would accept peacekeeping troops in Ukraine
15:55
15:55
16:02
16:05⇢Nuclear Chess After Trump's Paris Play
⌨The newspapers report on conflicting narratives following Trump-Macron meeting: France proposes forward-deploying European nuclear weapons to Germany (Breitbart), while Kremlin denies Trump's claims about accepting peacekeepers in Ukraine (Guardian, Times). Domestically, Starmer faces criticism for funding increased defence spending through foreign aid cuts (HuffPost, BBC), as he positions UK for larger defence role (Sky News).
16:10
The Guardian
Kremlin casts doubt on Trump claim Russia would accept European troops in Ukraine
16:10
16:11
16:19
BBC
Starmer increases UK defence spending ahead of White House visit
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Donald Trump on Thursday.
16:19
16:35
The Jewish Chronicle
16:35
16:52
Channel 4
Freedom of Information requests showed that an estimated 48,067 babies, aged 0-2, were subject to referrals to children’s services in England due to specific fears over domestic abuse.
16:52
17:00
Breaking | Live
17:00
17:16
UK | Sarah Hooper
17:16
17:16
Sky News
17:16
17:46
The Jewish Chronicle
17:46
17:46
17:46
ZEL AT THE HELM | World News
17:46
17:53
Breitbart UK
The UK, which has barely scraped the NATO minimum for years, will raid foreign aid budget to bring forward hitting 2.5 per cent on defence.
17:53
17:53
18:01
18:18
18:41
18:43⇢Aid Bleeds For Defence Feed
⌨The newspapers heavily report on PM Starmer's defence spending increase to 2.5% GDP (BBC, Sky, Mirror, Breitbart), funded by foreign aid cuts (HuffPost, Jewish Chronicle), ahead of his Trump meeting. Two new major developments emerge: alarming reports of 50,000 babies referred annually to social services due to domestic abuse (Channel 4, Metro), and warnings of rising energy bills (Morning Star, Spiked).
18:49
20:08
Steve Bannon’s dumb salute is further proof of the right’s drift from normalcy.
20:08
20:23
The prime minister sets out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.
20:23
20:23
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets the US President Donald Trump in Washington in a couple of days time and the announcement of a fast-track increase in UK defence spending was certainly framed to appeal to the US.
20:23
20:55
DON DEAL | World News
20:55
21:03
21:03
21:03
OL' BLACK EYES | News TV
21:03
21:18
BBC
Ukrainian official says terms of minerals deal reached with US
The US is seeking access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals - and in exchange Kyiv wants security guarantees.
21:18
21:18
The Guardian
Trump defends Musk as backlash to federal workers ultimatum grows
21:18
21:25
21:56
22:13⇢Zelensky's Mineral Surrender
⌨The newspapers report extensively on Ukraine's agreement to a US minerals deal: Zelensky accepts American access to rare earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees (BBC, Daily Mail, Independent, Sky News). In parallel, PM Starmer increases defence spending ahead of Trump meeting by cutting foreign aid (Channel 4, Breitbart, HuffPost). NATO responds to Russian nuclear-capable bomber activity near borders (Metro).
22:26
22:50
World | Gergana Krasteva
22:50
23:14
UK | Tom Sanders
23:14