James Menendez

When you're near the Western border, it's not uncommon to see military convoys under police escort coming in. It's like an artery. It's much needed armor and ammunition for exhausted troops on the front line. And other Western allies to this point have been unable to plug the gap when American aid has slowed in the past, when it's happened in the past through political disagreements in the U.S.

Congress. President Zelensky says Ukraine has lost land and lives as a direct result. And I remember the eastern once fortress town of Avdiivka falling early last year because you had troops there that were dug in, but they just ran out of kit. And this as a political lever puts enormous pressure on President Zelensky to play ball with Washington.

Congress. President Zelensky says Ukraine has lost land and lives as a direct result. And I remember the eastern once fortress town of Avdiivka falling early last year because you had troops there that were dug in, but they just ran out of kit. And this as a political lever puts enormous pressure on President Zelensky to play ball with Washington.

And it challenges that existential belief that if Ukraine stops fighting, then it'll succumb to Russia forever. because without American help, things could probably go south very quickly.

And it challenges that existential belief that if Ukraine stops fighting, then it'll succumb to Russia forever. because without American help, things could probably go south very quickly.

Very much so. There are a string of towns and cities in the eastern Donetsk region which come under increasing artillery fire that are sitting very uncomfortably as Russian forces target major supply lines. Now, Ukraine had been launching counter-offensives in some areas, pushing back... But the Russian forces are advancing slowly, albeit in several other areas.

Very much so. There are a string of towns and cities in the eastern Donetsk region which come under increasing artillery fire that are sitting very uncomfortably as Russian forces target major supply lines. Now, Ukraine had been launching counter-offensives in some areas, pushing back... But the Russian forces are advancing slowly, albeit in several other areas.

And how that is perceived, if you look at America warming its relationship with Russia, exploring the relaxation of sanctions whilst putting Ukraine first. under this kind of pressure, in the eyes of some amounts to a switching of sides.

And how that is perceived, if you look at America warming its relationship with Russia, exploring the relaxation of sanctions whilst putting Ukraine first. under this kind of pressure, in the eyes of some amounts to a switching of sides.

Equally, there are MPs saying, look, to President Zelensky, go to Washington, sign this minerals deal, say you're sorry, say thank you repeatedly, because that's clearly what they want, if it's for the sake of the future of Ukraine.

Equally, there are MPs saying, look, to President Zelensky, go to Washington, sign this minerals deal, say you're sorry, say thank you repeatedly, because that's clearly what they want, if it's for the sake of the future of Ukraine.

It is just a plan at the moment. Essentially, it's an attempt by the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the French President, Macron, to try and take some ownership of this process. If you think about it...

It is just a plan at the moment. Essentially, it's an attempt by the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the French President, Macron, to try and take some ownership of this process. If you think about it...

The discussions about a ceasefire in Ukraine have been dominated by US initiatives in recent weeks, primarily begun by a long conversation between President Trump and President Putin. And I think what we've seen today is an attempt by the Europeans to say, look, we need to enter that conversation. We need to agree our own position.

The discussions about a ceasefire in Ukraine have been dominated by US initiatives in recent weeks, primarily begun by a long conversation between President Trump and President Putin. And I think what we've seen today is an attempt by the Europeans to say, look, we need to enter that conversation. We need to agree our own position.

We need to make our own offer in terms of, you know, this coalition of the willing, of more European countries that are willing to try and deploy their own military forces in principle to guarantee Ukraine's security after some kind of a ceasefire, so that they can take that to the Americans and say, look, this is what we Europeans are prepared to do.

We need to make our own offer in terms of, you know, this coalition of the willing, of more European countries that are willing to try and deploy their own military forces in principle to guarantee Ukraine's security after some kind of a ceasefire, so that they can take that to the Americans and say, look, this is what we Europeans are prepared to do.

But we need that, as the Prime Minister said, to come with an American military backstop too. And I think that's the aim, is to get the Americans back on track to that sort of discussion. Because Both in his talks with Mr. Macron and Sir Keir Starmer last week, the U.S. president made it very clear at the moment that he's very reluctant to get involved in talking about a U.S. military backstop.

But we need that, as the Prime Minister said, to come with an American military backstop too. And I think that's the aim, is to get the Americans back on track to that sort of discussion. Because Both in his talks with Mr. Macron and Sir Keir Starmer last week, the U.S. president made it very clear at the moment that he's very reluctant to get involved in talking about a U.S. military backstop.

No, I think he genuinely believes that the Americans are still biddable on this. That's not a position held by everybody simply because of the scale of the situation. the antipathy expressed towards President Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday night. But clearly, you know, Mr. Sikistama has said explicitly in terms today that he trusts the