James Menendez

And what about the political dynamics, the context from the Turkish government's point of view and President Erdogan?

The inescapable fact for Ukraine and Europe is that it needs America still. As European allies look to increase defence spending, as Ukraine tries to portray its vision for a post-ceasefire existence, it still needs America to be there. if the fighting was to break out once more, if Russia was to try and invade Ukraine again.

The inescapable fact for Ukraine and Europe is that it needs America still. As European allies look to increase defence spending, as Ukraine tries to portray its vision for a post-ceasefire existence, it still needs America to be there. if the fighting was to break out once more, if Russia was to try and invade Ukraine again.

And I think that's why we've seen Kyiv continue to engage, despite the very maximalist openings from Donald Trump in terms of wanting access to $500 billion worth of these natural minerals. What struck me was the reported lack of a security guarantee in return in this agreement, because this is what President Zelensky has called for for a long time –

And I think that's why we've seen Kyiv continue to engage, despite the very maximalist openings from Donald Trump in terms of wanting access to $500 billion worth of these natural minerals. What struck me was the reported lack of a security guarantee in return in this agreement, because this is what President Zelensky has called for for a long time –

the idea that America would help prop up Ukraine once the war ends. But I think there's a real hope here that this will pave the way for future cooperation with America.

the idea that America would help prop up Ukraine once the war ends. But I think there's a real hope here that this will pave the way for future cooperation with America.

After a fortnight where insults have been aimed at Kiev, where there's been a warming between Washington and Moscow, just maybe this could be the start of Ukraine forging the relationship it needs to survive and exist as a sovereign country, even with Russia continuing to occupy a fifth of it.

After a fortnight where insults have been aimed at Kiev, where there's been a warming between Washington and Moscow, just maybe this could be the start of Ukraine forging the relationship it needs to survive and exist as a sovereign country, even with Russia continuing to occupy a fifth of it.

It's a contradictory term. I think the impression we get here is that this is still part of a broader peace endeavour. Donald Trump still wants this war to end quickly. He wants to engage with Russia to do that, as well as Ukraine, and he wants to get some kind of commercial return. He is very much in transaction mode, and I suspect he is referring to...

It's a contradictory term. I think the impression we get here is that this is still part of a broader peace endeavour. Donald Trump still wants this war to end quickly. He wants to engage with Russia to do that, as well as Ukraine, and he wants to get some kind of commercial return. He is very much in transaction mode, and I suspect he is referring to...

military provisions that will be given to Ukraine as part of European peacekeeping forces, for example, to allow a ceasefire to be enforced. I don't think there is the appetite from either America for this war to drag on, nor Ukraine either, because of course people here want peace. There are growing divisions over mobilisation and how soldiers are called up, and of course there's war fatigue.

military provisions that will be given to Ukraine as part of European peacekeeping forces, for example, to allow a ceasefire to be enforced. I don't think there is the appetite from either America for this war to drag on, nor Ukraine either, because of course people here want peace. There are growing divisions over mobilisation and how soldiers are called up, and of course there's war fatigue.

This is what full-scale conflicts do. And Russia's invasion has been full scale for more than three years now. So I think these forces are driving the parties to an end. But for Ukrainians, it's about the terms. A ceasefire, in the eyes of many, would not mean peace.

This is what full-scale conflicts do. And Russia's invasion has been full scale for more than three years now. So I think these forces are driving the parties to an end. But for Ukrainians, it's about the terms. A ceasefire, in the eyes of many, would not mean peace.

And if Donald Trump was to rush through an unacceptable peace deal that Ukraine wouldn't accept, it would keep fighting, but it wouldn't assure its future.

And if Donald Trump was to rush through an unacceptable peace deal that Ukraine wouldn't accept, it would keep fighting, but it wouldn't assure its future.

In the House of Commons this afternoon, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs he was proud of the UK's development work. Moments later, the UK Prime Minister announced a massive cut in, yes, Britain's development budget. The reduction from 0.5% of national income to 0.3% means $7.5 billion less will be spent on foreign aid by the UK each year.

In the House of Commons this afternoon, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs he was proud of the UK's development work. Moments later, the UK Prime Minister announced a massive cut in, yes, Britain's development budget. The reduction from 0.5% of national income to 0.3% means $7.5 billion less will be spent on foreign aid by the UK each year.

Given that billions of this budget still pays for asylum seekers' hotels in the UK, the actual amount of money spent on aid overseas will be about 0.15%. The Prime Minister said the UK would use this money to help Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza tackle climate change and support multinational efforts on global health. AIDS charities were stunned.